SAVE Aston Green Fields

01/04/2025

Expect to see a lot more of this 😡

❌ Stafford borough Council. Is no longer going with the preferred option plan, so everything is now open for planning.

❌ Because there is no five-year supply for housing or commercial, any planning applications are likely to be granted.

❌ There are now no official defined boundaries between Stone Stafford and Eccleshall.

❌ There are no current guidelines or planning recommendations development/developers should follow.

🥲 We are now in the wild west when it comes to planing applications.

We try to avoid being political on this page but unfortunately it becomes unavoidable. We all know that the Labour Party want to prioritise development. We’ve got a Labour run council who’ve delayed and delayed on the implementation of a local plan and all of a sudden the national government have announced new housing targets which gives the council a justifiable reason to re-start the whole process. Something that leaves communities completely vulnerable to hawkish developers.

So the whole thing feels like it’s been carefully coordinated by Labour to kick start development.

You could make an argument that development needs kick starting but it still needs to be done with consideration and respect for communities.

We’ll be writing to all of our Stone Independent Councillors on this matter to understand their position and see if they will be supporting our campaign.

A major housing proposal for the western edge of Stone has returned to the table as Bloor Homes submits early plans for more than 500 homes and a new first school.

Stafford Borough Council has received a request for a screening opinion for land off Eccleshall Road – the first step in deciding whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be required before a formal planning application is made.

Read more on our website - https://alittlebitofstone.com/2025/03/28/plans-for-500-new-homes-and-school-on-farmland-west-of-stone/

01/04/2025

1000 signatures 💪

Our petition to SAVE ASTON GREEN FIELDS has reached its first milestone.

We need to keep pushing on though.

Please help us by signing our petition and sharing it with your family and friends 🙏

A Little Bit of Stone

Save Rural Stone

31/03/2025

The truth about so-called “job-creating” warehouses:

• 🏗️ Developers promised “up to 500 jobs” to win community support for the mega warehouse in Stone.

• 🧢 The reality? Just look at the half-empty car park — the jobs never came

• 🤖 Automation is replacing people — and it’s only accelerating

• ❌ These promises are just a sales pitch to get planning permission

• 🏘️ Our communities are left with traffic, noise, and no long-term benefit

It’s time we stopped falling for it. We deserve better than broken promises.

Sign our petition and send a message that our farm land isn’t for sale.

https://www.change.org/p/save-rural-stone

22/03/2025

A Brief History of Aston-by-Stone

Aston-by-Stone is a small village steeped in history, lying just south of Stone in Staffordshire. Mentioned in the Domesday Book as part of Robert de Stafford’s estates, it has been rooted in agriculture for centuries, with its name derived from the Old English East tūn, meaning “eastern farmstead.”

St Saviour’s Church, built in 1848, still stands at the heart of the community, a reminder of the village’s Victorian heritage. Though quiet and rural, Aston-by-Stone has evolved over time while maintaining its strong ties to the land.

Now, a major planning application could mark a turning point for the area. A local farmer is seeking permission to convert 190 acres of farmland into commercial development — a proposal that would significantly reshape the landscape and character of this historic village.

As Aston-by-Stone looks to the future, the community faces important questions about growth, identity, and preserving its rural heritage.

17/03/2025

Our petition to SAVE ASTON GREEN FIELDS is approaching its first milestone.

Please help us to reach 1000 signatures by signing our petition and sharing it with your family and friends 🙏

A Little Bit of Stone

https://www.change.org/p/save-rural-stone

Save Rural Stone

15/03/2025

🦉 Protect Aston’s Wildlife – Save Our Barn Owls! 🌿

Aston’s countryside is home to a rich variety of wildlife, but few sights are as breathtaking as the barn owls that glide silently across the A34 towards the fields along Bowers Lane. These majestic birds rely on the open farmland and hedgerows for hunting, nesting, and survival.

🚨 Now, this vital habitat is under threat. Plans to develop 192 acres of farmland will devastate local wildlife, destroying not just the landscape but the delicate ecosystems that support these beautiful creatures. Barn owls are highly sensitive to habitat loss—without open fields and rough grassland, they struggle to find food and safe nesting sites.

❌ Once they’re gone, they’re gone. We must act now to protect our countryside before it’s too late!

📢 Sign the petition today to help stop this reckless destruction and save Aston’s wildlife! Every signature counts. 📝👇

🔗 https://www.change.org/p/save-rural-stone

A Little Bit of Stone

🦉 🌍 🚜

13/03/2025

DON’T LET ASTON GREEN FIELDS DISAPPEAR! 🌾🚗💚

Imagine this: You’re driving home after a long, stressful day. The traffic has been relentless, work has been full-on, and your mind is racing. Then, as you leave Stafford or Stone, you hit the A34 and all around you are green fields and farmland. The fresh air, the open space, the sense of freedom. It’s a moment to decompress, to breathe, to reset.

Now imagine that gone. Replaced by endless rooftops, traffic jams, and soulless industrial estates and housing. No break between town and city. No escape. Just more urban sprawl, creeping in, suffocating the space that keeps us sane. 🏗️🚦😞

The Aston farmland isn’t just dirt—it’s a lifeline. It’s a mental reset for thousands of people every day. It’s a space for nature, a place where the landscape still feels open and free. Once it’s built on, that feeling is gone forever.

🛑 Say NO to urban sprawl. Say YES to keeping Stone and Stafford separate. Say YES to protecting our mental health and our countryside.

Sign the petition today 🙏🙏🙏

https://www.change.org/p/save-rural-stone?source_location=search

💬 COMMENT if you feel the same. SHARE to spread the message! 🚜🌿

11/03/2025

🚜 Save Aston Green Fields – Say NO to Commercial Development! 🚧

🔍 WHO?
We are Save Aston Green Fields, a local action group made up of residents, farmers, and supporters fighting to protect our agricultural land from being commercially developed.

📌 WHAT?
Developers want to replace Aston’s farmland with industrial warehouses.
A local farmer has appointed Richborough (www.richborough.co.uk) to secure planning permission on 192 acres of Aston Farmland on the outskirts of Stone.

This isn’t just a loss of green space – it’s a threat to local food production, wildlife, and our rural way of life. Once this land is concreted over, it’s gone forever.

📍 WHERE?
The fields at Aston sit between Stone and Stafford, creating a vital green buffer that prevents urban sprawl. If this development goes ahead, Aston and Stone will be one step closer to being swallowed up by industrial expansion.

❓ WHY?
🚜 To protect our farmland – These fields have been farmed for generations and are vital for local food supply.
🏡 To stop urban sprawl – Maintaing the integrity of this ancient village and keeping Stone and Stafford separate is crucial to maintaining our community’s identity.
🌍 To preserve our environment – Farmland absorbs CO₂, prevents flooding, and supports biodiversity. Warehouses do the opposite.
🚛 To prevent increased traffic & pollution – Massive warehouses mean HGV congestion, noise, and pollution in our rural area.
🚫 To fight unnecessary development – There are better places for industrial expansion that don’t destroy farmland and green spaces.

⚡ HOW CAN YOU HELP?
✅ Join our group – The more support, the stronger our campaign!
✅ Spread the word – Share this post and talk to your neighbours! 📢
✅ Sign petitions & write to councillors – Decision-makers need to hear from YOU!
✅ Attend meetings & events – Stay informed and take action.

https://www.change.org/p/save-rural-stone

💪 This is OUR community, and we must stand together to protect it. Let’s stop this warehouse development before it’s too late. Follow us for updates and ways to help! 🌱