40pFriday, April 6, 2012

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Reporting local life since 1854

Good Friday Edition

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BAC KPAG E

Retailers bringjobs joy to cityABOUT 100 staff will startnew jobs next week whennational retailer The Rangeopens in Stoke-on-Trent.

The home, garden andleisure superstore will openits doors in City Road inFenton on April 13.

Its opening will come just afew weeks before Smyths Toysunlocks the doors to its newoutlet at the Phoenix RetailPark in Longton.See Page 11

Cats poisonedby anti-freezeTHE RSPCA has issued awarning for cat owners tokeep an eye on their petsfollowing a case of anti-freezepoisoning.

Two cats owned by theCooke family, of Meir, diedwithin days of each other,with tests showing high levelsof the poison in their system.

Now the charity is advisingowners to keep pets indoors.See Page 4

£3.7m TOGET CARSOFF ROAD

Projects aimed at cutting congestion

H ATC H I N GA PLAN SEE

PAGE 13

BY ALEX CAMPBELLalex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk

GOVERNMENT funding of £3.7million is to be ploughed intocutting congestion and improv-ing roads for shoppers andc o m m u t e r s.

Stoke-on-Trent City Councilis to invest the cash in morethan 70 projects ranging frommajor repairs to new bus lanesand cycle routes.

The council said the fundingwould improve public trans-port to help get more cars offthe roads and support the localeconomy by boosting regener-ation schemes like the newHanley bus station.

Motorists have been asked toremain patient while road-works take place.

Major schemes set to beginwithin the next 12 monthsi n cl u d e :■ a road and bridge main-tenance project costing£1.8 million;■ improvement pro-grammes costing up to£800,000 for Hanley and allfive town centres,including p ro -jects to

improve traffic flow to the newbus station;■ more than £450,000 beingspent on improving cycle pathsand making popular schoolroutes safer for children.

Bus stops will also beimproved, with LCD inform-ation screens installed inBurslem, Longton and Stoke.

More cash has also beenpledged to fund bus lanee n fo rc e m e n t to deter cardrivers from using them.

Paul De Santis, networkmanager for First Midlands,pictured, said: “We welcomeinvestment in bus routes, butthe real issue is the unpre-dictable traffic congestion.

“It’s a big nut to crack thatwill require a lot of discussionand expenditure. It’s encour-aging that it’s been recognised

that bus journeys need to bemade more attractive interms of predictability.”

School run parkingchaos is set to be tackledwith a citywide pro-gramme to impose new

traffic orders and paint newroad markings.

Detailed plansare also being

drawn up to improve roadsafety at black spots.

They include an overhaul ofthe Smallthorne roundabouts,near Burslem town centre,which have seen 26 accidents inthree years. The three miniroundabouts control six roadsleading into a crossroad.

The Stafford Street and OldHall Street pedestrian zone inHanley is also to be extended.

Motorist and mum-of-twoMelissa Turner, aged 35, ofFenton, said: “I hope the coun-cil is spending the fundingwisely as they do need to makeit easier to get around.

“Getting stuck in traffic putspeople off going to Hanley.”

Councillor Adrian Knapper,cabinet member for transportand planning, said: “Key areasthis funding will target includethe economy, improving publictransport, encouraging safeand sustainable travel, high-ways and bridge maintenanceand improving the efficiency ofthe road network.”

Is it money well spent? Emailus at letters@thesentinel.co.uk

Getting roads moving: Page 6

WIN!CINEMAT I C K E TS

PAGE 24

ADAMS: HALF MY SQUAD WILL WALKPicture: Mark Scott

Firm’s £800kdebts shockA WAREHOUSE worker hastold how he found out he nolonger had a job - in a text.

A meeting of creditors ofGilberts House Furnishers, inHartshill, was told JohnRobinson was at a hospitalappointment when he got themessa g e.

It emerged the companyowes more than £800,000 toc re d i t o r s.See Page 7

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