Parish Profile

The civil parish is one of the largest in Stafford Borough and includes four wards – Blythe Bridge (part is in Stafford Borough and part in Staffordshire Moorlands), Fulford (which includes Cross Gate, Moss Gate, Saverley Green, and Stallington communities), Meir Heath, and Rough Close - in all approximately 2400 dwellings with over 4800 electors.

The largest ward is Meir Heath with over 1700 electors, Blythe Bridge with over 1500, Fulford with 1000, and Rough Close with 600. Whilst a significant amount of housing is located in Blythe Bridge and Meir Heath, the parish is mainly rural with much located in the Green Belt of North Staffordshire.

Fulford has a public house in the heart of the village, its own actively supported Village Hall, a Primary School, an Anglican Church and a Methodist Church at Cross Gate. A football club uses a pitch on the edge of the village and there are further public houses within walking distances.

In neighbouring Stallington Village, plans have recently been approved for recreational facilities to be erected on and around the playing field at the heart of this recently expanded small community.

In the heart of Meir Heath there are local amenities such as convenience stores, a newsagent, church, and public house. Two additional public houses are within walking distance of the centre. Meir Heath and Rough Close Village Hall, extended in 2006/7 included the provision of an office for Fulford Parish Council and serves the local communities.

Adjoining it is the Parish owned Grindley Park where plans exist to add children’s play equipment. There is a large Primary School, accommodating almost 400 pupils. Football and cricket clubs have pitches and facilities on the edge of the village.

Rough Close adjoins Meir Heath and also has public houses and access to a primary school. Barlaston Common is a particularly important feature and is designated a Grade 1 Site of Biological Interest and a Local Nature Reserve due to its mixture of heath, grassland and wooded habitat.

Blythe Bridge residents benefit from a local Primary School, and an array of shops with further facilities in the heart of the village that lies in the adjoining parish of Forsbrook within Staffordshire Moorlands. These include the area High School, recently refurbished Library, shops, several public houses, and churches. A small business site offers some local employment together with some other private enterprises.