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City NewsS T R O N G E R TO G E T H E R

Winter 2015 stoke.gov.uk

MILLIONS of pounds worth ofbusiness rates and tax relief couldsee the council attract thousands ofnew jobs to Stoke-on-Trent’s primeemployment sites.

Hopes are high that theGovernment will give the greenlight to the city’s strong bid for anEnterprise Zone in the CeramicValley – which stretches fromEtruria to north of Tunstall –before Christmas.

Around £50million is alreadybeing invested to improve theroads around Etruria Valley andtake forward the innovativeDistrict Heating Network whichwould provide eco-friendly, lowcost heat to businesses and homesacross the city.

Success on the Enterprise Zone

would give the city council controlof an attractive package of tax andrates incentives it could use toattract big-name manufacturersand the supply chain jobs whichsupport them to thousands ofhectares of development-readyland with some of the bestcommunications links in thecountry.

Deputy Council Leader AbiBrown said councillors andofficers had met with Governmentministers and civil servants,including several importantvisitors to the city’s stand at theprestigious MIPIM developmenttrade show in London.

She said: “Six ministers visitedthe stand. We pressed the case forthe Enterprise Zone and thebenefits it would bring to the city,

in job creation, investment andstatus. They said the Governmentis behind the work we are tryingto do here to create jobs and growthe city’s economy.

“We are excited about gettingthis moving and officers arealready talking to companieslooking for sites for whom thiskind of capital allowance tax reliefand business rate relief would bethe clincher. This is a credible bidthat could transform potentialemployment sites into thriving jobcreation centres and that wouldhave a knock-on for the entire cityeconomy.”

Meanwhile a ground-breakingpartnership between the citycouncil, county council, otherStaffordshire authorities and evencouncils in Cheshire has broken

down boundaries to create aneconomic powerhouse to benefitthe whole region.

The Northern Gateway will buildon opportunities created by theHS2 rail link within the area, andaims to create 120,000 new jobsand build 100,000 new homes inthe next 20 years.

Councillor Brown said therewould be short and mid-termgains as well, with the cityproviding key brownfielddevelopment sites for industryand housing.

“We have the sites andinfrastructure improvements inplace so we are ready to makethese exciting opportunities,backed by the rest of the countyand our Cheshire neighbours,”she added.

PAGE 7

ALLOUTDRIVEFOR NEWJOBS PAGE 6

PAGE 16

PAGES 10-11

City set for Eurosporting limelight

2 City News WINTER 2015

MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online. To see andhear the debates and decisions which affect life in Stoke-on-Trent,visit stoke.gov.uk/webcasting.

A list of dates and times of council meetings and committee meetings can be found on our website at stoke.gov.uk/meetingdates

LIVE WEBCAST of full council meetingsWeb: stoke.gov.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/

stokeontrent.citycouncil

Twitter: @SoTCityCouncil

twitter.com/SoTCityCouncil

BUSY volunteers are paving the way for a£4.5million restoration of much lovedHanley Park.

Residents aged 18-80 have already signedup to help spread the word about workwhich starts next year to refurbish thehistoric pavillion, boathouse and otherbuildings, gardens and bridges on theVictorian site.

Work has already begun to open upoutstanding views across the park byremoving self-seeding trees and the main

contractors are due on site early in the newyear to start the refurbishment paid forafter a successful bid to the HeritageLottery Fund.

The army of volunteers at the park isalready working on improvements to apopular wildlife area and planning aChristmas event which takes place onDecember 13.

Park Liaison Officer Tom Pine said:“There is lots to do at the park andvolunteering can be really rewarding.

“We have people putting something backinto their community, and some, who arewaiting to start a university course, arestrengthening their CVs by taking part.

“There is no full-time commitment...people can give the time they can affordand everyone is welcome.”

Latest news is available on the HanleyPark Facebook page or at twitter.com/hanleypark■ To become a volunteer call Tom Pineon 07787 005946.

City News is printed on paper fromsustainable sources.When you havefinished with this publication pleasehelp the environment by passing iton to a friend or recycling it.

COSTUMES worn by the ladies inthe rarefied world of DowntonAbbey are to be featuredalongside an exhibitioncelebrating high-achieving localwomen at the Potteries Museum& Art Gallery.

Dresses worn by femalemembers of the aristocraticCrawley family in the popularITV series, now in its sixth andfinal series, will supplementexhibits in a show focusing on“Fabulous Ladies ofStoke-on-Trent” from the early1900s. Centre-stage will beeye-catching outfits worn byCora Crawley, Countess of

Grantham (played by ElizabethMcGovern),Violet Crawley,Dowager Countess of Grantham(Maggie Smith) and Lady MaryCrawley (Michelle Dockery).

The costumes from the perioddrama will help establish thetheme of the woman’s role in theearly twentieth century.

Notable ladies to be featuredin the exhibition, planned to runfrom 2 July to 30 September nextyear, will include:

● Millicent, Duchess ofSutherland, writer and socialcampaigner in the Potteries,famous for taking a party ofnurses to Belgium to care forinjured soldiers on the frontline

in the 1914-18 war.● Fanny Deakin, a localpolitician noted for hercampaigns in Staffordshire forbetter nourishment of youngchildren and maternity care for mothers.● Gertie Gitana, the Longportborn music hall entertainerwho was sometimes billed asthe “Staffordshire Cinderella”.

Both the Downton Abbeycostumes and the objects anddocuments relating to thehistorical women will be backed up by materials fromthe Museum & Art Gallery’sdecorative and fine artcollections.

THE Coalition running thecity council is all aboutaction, not just talkingabout what might happen.

This newspaper tells residentshow our vision is paying off andwhat we have achieved since May.We will provide honest reportsabout action to improve life in thecity and our unique towns. We willnot soft-soap the public with spinwhich does not reflect reality.

The Coalition will be straighttalking. Our common sense visionis geared to deliver where itmatters most. So the city councilwill provide the evidence of howinvestment and strategies aremaking life better for residents,their families, businesses andcommunities. That means cleanerstreets, housing initiatives, bettermaintained roads, free nurseryplaces, the biggest ever Christmascelebrations in all Six Towns andother communities and muchmore.

This Christmas we are alsodelivering some free parking tosupport traders who have beenasking for it for years. We havelistened. Remember... we areStronger Together.

Look at the problems weinherited and are sorting out:

We never wanted the Smithfielddevelopment. It was a liability anda potential disaster. Now it’s wellon the way to attracting hundredsof new, well-paid jobs.

It used to be virtuallyimpossible to get a telephone callthrough to the council. We havechanged the way our call centreworks to make response timesmuch quicker.

We need residents’ help too.Just by putting the right waste inthe right bin the public can savethe council money and help us hitrecycling targets. We tell residentshow they can help on pages 14and 15.

We scrapped the old councilmagazine because it did notreflect reality. Self-praise andpipe dreams are not our style.

We have launched a newnewspaper – straight-talking andhonest – which reports what weare achieving, outlining how wewill deliver our ambitions andshowing how the public can dotheir bit. It costs us 24p a copy toproduce and deliver it to 120,000homes... that’s less than half theprice of a second class stamp!

So we are not only improvingcommunications, but we aresaving money as well.

By City Council Leader Councillor

Dave Conway

WE want to hear your views onCity News, so please let us knowwhat you like about the newnewspaper, what you don’t likeand what you’d like to see more of.

You can email me [email protected] or write toFREEPOST City News to haveyour say.

Give us your views

DOWNTON STYLECOMES TO CITY

Money saving offer

Volunteers sign up to help with £4.5m restoration of Hanley Park

The aristocratic Crawleyfamily in the ITV blockbusterDownton Abbey.

City News readers arebeing offered 20 per centoff purchases in the shopand cafe at the PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery inthe run up to Christmas.

The deal is not to beused in conjunction withany other offer and isavailable until ChristmasEve. To qualify all readershave to do is say they readabout the offer in thecouncil newspaper.

Honest reportswill keep publicin touch withprogress acrossthe Six Towns

WINTER 2015 City News 3

Free parkingis an earlyChristmaspresent forshoppersand traders

Chance tocomment onpriorities

SEISMIC surveys will helpStoke-on-Trent City Councildecide the future of itsmulti-million pound scheme toturn hot water locked deepunderground into cheap heating.

The latest feasibility work onthe deep geothermal DistrictHeat Network will involve twotrucks travelling from Keeleacross the Etruria Valley toBirches Head – using soundwaves to collect key data forproduction of a 3Dimensionalgeological model.

Experts have measured thedeep underground watertemperature at 95 degrees andbelieve heating harnessed fromit could be up to 10 per centcheaper than traditional heatingsystems.

The plan is to pump this hotwater to the surface and return itback again through a closed loopusing two wells.

A simple heat exchanger wouldextract energy during theprocess, passing the heat into anetwork of pipes for distributionto large scale premises inHanley, Shelton and Stoke.

Estimated construction costs ofa deep geothermal energy centreare £17million and will be

funded by the private sector.Backed by £19.75million inGovernment money, the councilwill deliver the pipe network.

Market testing for potentialprivate sector partners toestablish an Energy ServiceCompany (ESCo) is alreadyunderway. Completion of thewhole scheme is anticipated by2019.

Sebastien Danneels, thecouncil’s Technical LeadManager for the project, said:“The scheme has to becommercially viable andtechnically feasible to ensurethat the customers are able togain the benefits expected. It’san innovative and fascinatingscheme with significant practicalbenefits for the city as well asputting Stoke-on-Trent at theforefront of low carbon districtheating in the UK.”

Viable alternatives andadditional heat sources havebeen identified by the council ifthe deep geothermal heat sourceis not feasible so the scheme willcontinue.

There are already 212successful geothermal districtheating schemes across Europe.The city scheme would be thefirst of its kind of this scale inthe UK if it goes ahead.

A brown paper packages book challengehas been launched at Stoke Library, toencourage people to branch out and readsomething a little bit different.

A selection of titles are beingwrapped up so that readers do notknow what they are borrowing untilthey get their package home – the onlyclue about what lies inside is a briefhint on the front.

Librarian Amy Capewell said:“Sometimes people run out of booksbecause they tend to stick to aparticular genre. We want to createa sort of blind date with a book.

“The idea of brown paperpackages also links to the musicalThe Sound of Music, whichcelebrates its 50th anniversarythis year, so we’re hoping thatpeople come in for a package, trysomething different andhopefully find their newfavourite book inside.”

In the musical, governessMaria sings My FavouriteThings – one of which is brownpaper packages tied up withstring – to the Von Trappchildren to comfort themduring a thunder storm.

RESIDENTS will be able tocomment on the citycouncil’s spendingpriorities in a majorconsultation exercise.

Councillors will set out aplan for realising theirambitions for the city anddelivering vital frontlineservices while addressingcuts that need to be madeto save money.

A series of roadshowsand public meetings will bestaged towards the end ofthe year to outline theproposals and give thepublic the opportunity tohave their say. The councilwill also be gatheringpublic opinion on thebudget through its website.

City Council LeaderCouncillor Dave Conwaysaid: “We’re building a citywhere we are StrongerTogether with ourresidents, communities,businesses andstakeholders. That meanswe will listen to them all aswe plan our spendingpriorities for the next year.”● Keep an eye on the citycouncil’s website atstoke.gov.uk and socialmedia for more informationon how to take part in thebudget consultation.

FREE parking in the citycentre and Stoke-on-Trent’stowns is being given as anearly Christmas present toshoppers and traders.

They will be able to parkfor free at certain times oncouncil car parks during theChristmas lights switch-onsin the Six Towns and majorcentres like Meir.

And parking on council carparks will also be free duringthe city centre switch-onevent on 19 November.

Then for the whole ofDecember parking in thecity centre will be free after3pm and all day on Sundays.

Deputy Council LeaderCouncillor Abi Brown said:“We want to do everythingwe can to make our townsand city centre moreattractive to visitors so theycan come and enjoy thetraditional Christmas eventsand, of course, bring tradeto shops, markets and otherbusinesses.

“There is so much onoffer in our towns and inthe city centre thisChristmas and we want tosupport our traders and givethe public every reason totake part.

“It’s a fabulous earlyChristmas present forresidents, traders andvisitors and we expect it toattract lots of people toexperience our uniquetowns, communities and citycentre.”● See Christmas feature onpages eight and nine.

SCHEME TO TAPCHEAP ENERGY

Brown paper packagestied up with string...these are a few ofStoke Library’sfavourite things

Surveys to assess feasibility of turning hot water into heatingAn artist’s impression showing how a

geothermal heat network would provide thecity with low cost heating.

Image courtesy of GT Energy UK Ltd.

Library Assistant Vicki Dean withsome of the brown paper packages.


CITY roads are being maintainedwith £5million set aside by theCabinet to prevent crumblingsurfaces and pothole nightmares.

The idea is to invest in roadsurface strengthening so they donot deteriorate and become animmediate problem.

The new prevention programmeoffers a more sustainable solutionwith longer lifespans for road andpavement surfaces which havebeen repaired.

A hi-tech annual survey usinglaser technology is carried out toclassify roads which need noaction as green; amber for thosestarting to show signs of wear andtear; and red routes needimmediate investigation.

Roads with an amber rating arebeing targetted with surfacedressing to prolong the road’s lifeand prevent it from slippingfurther into decline.

This year roads on estates atEaton Park and Meir Park havebeen completely surface dressed,with a layer of bitumen and anti-skid chipping added to givethem a significantly longer life.

This preventative work can onlytake place in spring and summerand planning is already underwayto schedule work to start next year.

Councillor Jack Brereton, theCabinet Member for regeneration,Transport and Heritage, said: “It’s acommon sense approach whichtargets the money we haveavailable at making a realdifference.

“The road network is our biggestasset so we must take action tokeep it maintained. Good roadsbenefit every resident andbusiness in the city.”

In the meantime city councilteams continue with work torepair potholes, larger patches andfootways.■ To report a pothole call 01782 237061 or [email protected]

£5M TO PREVENTROADS CRUMBLEHi-tech surface surveys inbattle to stop potholes

Roadman George Morris rolls tarmac as a council team resurface the pavement at Allanbrook Grove.

Paver Dave Ball, left, and LGV Driver Kevin Booth takeup old broken slabs in Allanbrook Grove at Lightwood.


NEARLY three quarters ofpeople feel positive aboutliving, working and learningin the city, according to thefindings of a wide-sweepingsurvey. Stronger Togetheroffered hundreds ofresidents the chance to havetheir say at events stagedthrough the summer andearly autumn.

Everyone was asked toprovide ideas and flag uppriorities as part of anongoing commitment to workwith local people andachieve the changes theywould like to see happen intheir communities.

The city council hasworked in partnership withkey organisations such asStaffordshire Police,Staffordshire Fire andRescue Service, localcolleges and the healthservice to deliver the project.The Stronger Togetherinitiative aims to:● Promote partnership

working to help children,residents and businessesachieve their full potential.

● Listen to communities tosupport those people whoneed the council’s help.

● Make the most of Stoke-on-Trent’s uniqueheritage, to invest in townsand communities andcreate a city that benefitseverybody.Stacy Sharman, Local

Matters Co-ordinator forCentral and North, said:“This was a really importantconsultation and the biggestheld in Stoke-on-Trent.Hundreds of events werestaged from local ward walksto meeting with residents’groups.

“All the findings will beused to shape future servicesand priorities at the counciland by our partners. Wewanted to know what wasgood and what was not sogood and get a real feel frompeople about what they wantto prioritise in theircommunities.”

Initial findings show that:● More than 70 per cent are

positive or very positiveabout living, working andstudying in the city –compared to 19 per cent in2014.

● By far the largest positiveaspect is the sense offamily, community,neighbourliness andfriendship.

● Other positives includeparks, open spaces andaccess to countryside,while amenities such asshopping and leisurefeature strongly.As part of the campaign

people were also asked totake part in a health andwellbeing survey. Key issuesraised were people havingaccess to GPs, same-dayappointments and theavailability of flexible timesand days at GP surgeries.

Residents will soon beavailable to view the fullresults of the survey atstoke.gov.uk/strongertogether and Local Mattersteams will be visitingcommunities to explain howthe findings will be used.

Residentshave their sayin shapingchange forthe future

SERIOUS interest in theSmithfield development in thecity centre could lead tohundreds of new private sectorjobs coming to Stoke-on-Trent.

Talks are well underway withpotential tenants for the twobuildings. Meanwhile, citycouncil services will be providedfrom the multi-coloured 1 Smithfield building from 19 November.

Hanley’s Local Centre teamwill offer a range of services tothe public from the city’s newBusiness District.

Council staff from around thecity will occupy the first threefloors of 1 Smithfield by early2016.

Most council staff will bebased at the heart of Stoke atthe Civic Centre.

Negotiations are taking placewith Staffordshire Police andthe NHS over potential uses forthe top two floors of thebuilding.

The Coalition running the citycouncil decided to move officersinto 1 Smithfield and use theother office block to attractprivate sector employers toHanley.

The city council is alreadyreceiving good interest in theother Smithfield building.

Councillor Jack Brereton,Cabinet Member forRegeneration, Transport andHeritage, said: “The building is afantastic opportunity foremployers to occupy Grade Aoffices at a fraction of the priceof those in Birmingham orManchester.

“We have the office spaceready to let. We’re excited aboutcontacts we have had in relationto the space.”

Cllr Brereton revealed thatone company from outside thearea, which has expressed aserious interest in takingspace in the complex, couldcreate 250 new, well-paidjobs.

The new Hanley Local centrewill offer a range of servicesincluding benefits advice,booking housing repairs, payingcouncil bills and arranging orrenewing bus passes.

Moving forward, the publicwill be able to use computers in1 Smithfield and there will alsobe learning and trainingservices delivered in thebuilding.

MAKING MOSTOF SMITHFIELD

Councillor Jack Brereton, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transport andHeritage, and Tracy Kirton, a Council Strategic Manager with responsibility forthe move to Smithfield, tour the new offices. Inset, one of the special doorsglass panels which depict iconic buildings and landscapes in Stoke-on-Trent.

The impressive atrium ofthe 1 Smithfield office block.

An exterior viewof the 1 Smithfield

building.


If you can read between the lines, you can save lives.

For help and advice for you or the person you’re worried

about, call Samaritans FREE on 116 123

Jim realised his mate

was hiding how he

felt, so he asked him

about it.

Because he did, his

mate’s still alive.

stoke.gov.uk/readbetweenthelinesReproduced with kind permission from NHS Health Scotland’s National Suicide Prevention Programme, Choose Life NHS Health Scotland

He

came to

footy

all the time

Seemed depressed, and it

the point that I asked

him about it after

He said he’d thought

about suicide

PLAYING and making a mess atnursery are important parts ofgrowing up for little AmirahMohammed and Chloe Eagles.They are two of thousands of two-year-olds making the most of free nursery places through thecity council.

It gives children the very beststart in life with excitingexperiences, chances to developfriendships and a love for learning.

Providing top quality nurseryprovision is an important part ofthe city’s efforts to boost childrenand young people’s achievementsat school. Now parents around thecity are being urged to make surethey use the free provision if theyare eligible.

Special Government funding hasbeen allocated to improve theservice, and over 50 settings,including private nurseries, schoolsand child minders have so farbenefited.

Two-year-olds are eligible for 15hours a week free nurseryeducation if parents receive certainbenefits, if the child has astatement of Special EducationalNeed or an Education, Health and

Care Plan or if the child attractsDisability Living Allowance. Allthree and four year olds in the cityqualify for free nursery places for15 hours a week.

Head of Citywide LocalityServices Tracy Jackson said: “Thereis a huge amount of evidence thatgiving children the best start in lifewith high quality nurseryeducation has positive effects on

children’s learning anddevelopment andproduces long-termimprovements in schoolsuccess.

“The children willenjoy lots of different experiences,learning and developing whileplaying and having fun.

“We would urge parents to makesure they don’t miss out.”

VERY BESTOF STARTS

Parents can find out if their children are eligible for freenursery places by searching Best Start Stoke-on-Trenton the internet, or calling 01782 232200.

Two-year-old ChloeEagles and Senior ChildcarePractitioner Vicky Matthewenjoy playing with shavingfoam and conkers atCarmountside PrimarySchool nursery.

Amirah Mohammed,aged two, makes awinter display.


START early morning in Tunstall Park – needs some TLC but a great walk. Good Market Square and Clock Tower too.

Down to Burslem’s magnificentlyrestored park – look down at the GoldenAngel from its terrace just as Anna did.Coffee in Swan Bank café in the townthat’s become the city’s ‘Montmartre’ –iconic buildings, artists’ studios, craftpotters, Barewall Gallery, the School ofArt. Then Westport Lake Visitor Centre for a snack looking out over the lake and all its water birds.

On to Stoke – good supermarkets andthe best town road in London Road. Longand straight, every kind of shop you needand great community events by SWOCA(Stoke West and Oakhill CommunityAssociation).

Up to Penkhull – village in the City – theGreyhound, music festivals and PenkhullMystery Play.

Then to Fenton and Victoria Road –every trading outlet you could need. NowLongton – charged with celebrating ourpottery-making heritage at the GladstonePottery Museum – essential visit for everychild of the Potteries.

Then “up ‘Anley duck” for last-minuteshopping, a glimpse of our famous Spitfirein the museum and out for a meal and ashow at the Regent or Mitchell ArtsCentre. That’s a good day, I think!

City DayIN the first of a new feature, we asked

Stoke-on-Trent-based film maker RAY

JOHNSON – Emeritus Professor of Film,

Heritage and Documentary at

Staffordshire University – how he would

spend his perfect day in the city.

Rayenjoys

the view atWestport

Lake.

Six Townstour is fullof delights

WAITING times for the city council’scustomer service hotline have beendramatically reduced thanks tonewly filled roles and simplified calloptions.

People can now get through to acustomer service adviser in aroundfour to five minutes compared to theaverage eight-minute wait at thebeginning of the year.

The reduction is due to six vacantpositions being filled and there arenow 33 advisers on hand between8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Caller options have also beenmade clearer, as people are nolonger directed to general extensionssuch as revenue but are able toselect more specific areas includingmaking a payment andenvironmental services.

These changes have been made atno extra cost to the council and haveresulted in an influx of positivefeedback from callers.

The customer service line – 01782234234 – receives more than 1,200calls each day and advisers aretrained to deal with every councilrelated issue – making them a onestop shop for advice and support.

Customer Services StrategicManager Emily Bagnall said: “Morethan anything, we are workingclosely with the administration teamto continue making improvementsand providing exceptional, dedicatedservice to all residents who wish tocontact the council.

“Whether a query is something assimple as making a payment whichtakes a couple of minutes or anin-depth Council Tax query whichcan take half an hour, we want tohelp people gain quick and easyaccess to the information they need,so that when they end their callevery issue and query has beenresolved for them.”

PEOPLE in at risk groups arebeing urged to take advantageof a free flu jab in the run upto winter.

Everyone aged 65 and over,children and adults withcertain medical conditions aswell as pregnant women areentitled to the flu vaccine.

The flu jab is safe, effectiveand quick to administer. Itdoes not contain live vaccineso, despite the myths, does notgive people the flu.

The best time for people tohave the vaccine is by the endof November and people inat-risk groups should havenow been contacted by theirGP practice. Getting the jabearly means people areprotected against flu for thewhole of the winter.

Anyone who thinks they ortheir child is eligible for thefree flu jab should call theirGP surgery to check and bookan appointment.

For more information visitstoke.gov.uk/flu or speak to apharmacist. General winterhealth advice is also availableon the city council website –stoke.gov.uk

CALL WAITINGTIME SLASHED

Free flu jab is now available for people in at risk groups

Customer ServicesSenior Advisor SamCheadle at the council’sbusy contact centre.

Practice Nurse JanetRogula gives a flu jab at

Tunstall Primary Care Centre.

8 City News WINTER 2015 WINTER 2015 City News 9

COLLECTIONS have started tohelp Lord Mayor Jean Bowersdeliver thousands of toys toneedy children inStoke-on-Trent this Christmas.

Anyone can make adonation of a toy, as long as itis brand new, in a bid to toplast year’s total of over 13,000gifts.

Now local employersincluding Steelite,Portmeirion, Churchill Chinaand Goodwin Internationalare backing the campaign bypromoting it to theiremployees and urging themto take part. Members of thepublic who want to donate atoy can drop it off at localSainsbury’s stores.

Or they can contact theSalvation Army on 01782

564529 and arrange for thetoys to be collected.

Salvation Army CommunityCentre Manager TheresaDunn said the people ofStoke-on-Trent wererenowned for their generosityand had rallied round the toycampaign in previous years.

She said: “They alwaysshow their kindness bythinking of others who mightbe facing hard times and whogenuinely need their support.

“We are immensely gratefulfor all the donations whichmake such a difference to somany children at Christmas.”

Anyone who would like torequest toys from the appealfor a child in their familyshould contact their nursery,school, children’s centre orhealth visitor.

I’m twoand I get

15 hoursfree earlylearning

and play

Couldyou?

applyon-line

now

To find out about free childcare01782 232200stoke.gov.uk/beststart #BePartOfTheTeam FOsTering

3 IN EVERY 400 CHILDRENIN STOKE-ON-TRENT NEED A FOSTER CARER

COULD YOU FOSTER ONE OF THEM?

GLITTERING Christmas spectacularskick off this year with thetraditional city centre switch ontaking place on 19 November.

A circus show high above the citystreets starts the countdown to thebig day with one of the biggest,widest ranging Christmasprogrammes Stoke-on-Trent haseven seen... all under the banner“loveChristmas.”

Each of the Six Towns will haveits own Christmas tree treat andspecial events supported by the citycouncil will take place in dozens ofcommunities.

In the city centre an astonishing,colourful spectacular takes place at7pm, with the renowned CirqueBijou theatre company performingA Christmas Love story Painted inthe Sky, after a day of music fromlocal schools starting at 10am.

The show will take place on ahigh wire suspended between twotowers, with tight-rope walkersplaying out a heart-warming lovestory high above the audience’sheads. Brave performers will showoff their balance and poise, backedby music from a community choir, ahost of LED-lit umbrellas anddramatic pyrotechnics.

Christmas trees will be lit up inFountain Square and Albion Squareand 70 lamp posts around the citycentre will each feature their ownlight display.

Thursday evenings will see latenight shopping in the city centre

from 26 November to 17 Decemberand choirs and streetentertainers will beperforming for the crowds.These will include traditionalfestive music from choirs andbands, and the wackiestChristmas entertainment everseen in Stoke-on-Trent fromstreet performance agency FoolsParadise. Their crazy charactersinclude Man in a ChristmasPresent, The Three Wise Hens andMusical Ruth.

Deputy Council Leader CouncillorAbi Brown said: “We listened tofeedback about what the publicreally want and we’re making surethe Six Towns celebrate Christmaswith a really traditional offer.

“That means Christmas trees inevery town centre, financial supportfor lots of community groups whowant to do their own thing and areally exciting programme in thecity centre. We’ve invested in newChristmas lights for Hanley andthere will be great streetentertainment, late night shoppingand our Christmas markets.

“If it’s worth doing it’s worthdoing well and we’re making surethis year there will be opportunitiesto celebrate Christmas well acrossthe whole city.”■ Walking street entertainers willhelp count down the last few hoursof 2015 in the city centre NewYear’s Eve spectacular. The funtakes place in Trinity Street,Hanley, between 8pm and 10pm.

A £1,000 prize giveaway and dedicatedChristmas markets will be helpingshoppers gear up for the festiveseason.

The city’s range of 10 indoor andoutdoor markets are all laying onevents as well, including face-paintingsessions for children, tea with Santaand other musical and seasonal

themed entertainment around thestalls. There will also be specialopening hours in the run up to 25December.

One of the main attractions is arepeat of last year’s £1,000 giveaway,which saw more than 2,600 marketshoppers enter the draw. This year, aswell as the top cash prize of £500, 10

lucky runners up will each get marketshopping vouchers worth £50.

A Christmas-themed marketfeaturing 24 wooden chalet-style stallswill also be in place in the city centrefrom 26 November to 24 December.

And King’s Christmas Market will beheld at the King’s Hall, Stoke from10am to 4pm on Sunday 22 November.

The festive events will follow onfrom the success of this autumn’s citycentre continental market, whichcaptured the imagination of shoppersand is due to return in 2016.■ For further information aboutStoke-on-Trent Markets and openingtimes call 01782 232716 or [email protected]

FESTIVITIES WILL BEBIGGER THAN EVER

Tweet your photos andvideos of the Christmas

celebrations using#loveChristmas

£1,000 in cash prizes to be won as the markets stage seasonal themed entertainment

Lord Mayor JeanBowers pictured with

Portmeirion’s SeniorHuman Resources

Manager Sam Pearceduring a visit to the

pottery factory atStoke to promote the

toy appeal.

Hanley Indoor Market greengrocers Julia Swaia,left, and Jackie Kearton get in the festive spirit.

Breathtaking high wire act will wow thecrowds at the lights switch-on evening.

Photo: Andre Pattenden

LED-lit umbrellas are part of a sensational show being performed bythe renowned Cirque Bijou at the city centre lights switch-on.

Photo: Andre Pattenden

Wacky characters fromFool’s Paradise streettheatre company willentertain city centreshoppers on Thursdaynights during the runup to Christmas.

Abbey Hulton: Abbot’s Road shops,20 November, (5.30pm).Bentilee: Neighbourhood Centre,1 December, (3.30pm-6pm). Lightsswitch-on at 5.50pm.Blurton Farm: Ingestre SquareHub, Christmas Party 11December, (5pm-8pm).Burslem Town Centre: 27November. (5pm-9pm). Lightsswitch-on at 6pm.Chell Heath: Chell Heath Centre –

meet Santa, 12 December,(11am-3pm). Christmas party, 15December, (6pm-9pm).Eaton Park: Lights switch-on eventat The Bellringer on 20 December(4pm-8pm). Santa Parade, 15 and16 December (5.30pm-9pm).Fenton: Lights switch-on at CityRoad Car Park, 2 December,(5pm-7pm).Hartshill: The Minton Centre, 21November, (10am-4pm).

St Paul’s Church, Longton Hall Road:Tea on 12 December (2pm-4pm)and a community event on 13December (2pm-5pm).Longton Town Centre: 27 November,(4pm-7pm). Lights switch-on at5.45pm.Meir: lights switch-on at 7pm, 4December (4.30pm-7.30pm).Queen’s Park Longton: 6 December(12pm-3pm).Red House, Longton: Lady Bennett

Court, 2 December, (6pm-8pm).Lights switch-on at 6pm.Shelton: St Mark’s Church, 28November (4pm-6.30pm).Smallthorne/Newford: SmallthorneCommunity Centre, 6 December(4pm).Stoke Town Centre: Stoke MarketSquare, 28 November, 12pm-9pm).Lights on at 8pm.Tunstall Town Centre: 11 December,(6pm-9pm).

Council funding and support for Christmas events throughout the city COMMUNITY groupsacross Stoke-on-Trent arestaging dazzling Christmasevents with funding andsupport from the citycouncil. Residents’Associations, local forums,churches and other groupshave all successfully bidfor their funds to bematched by the council.

The festive vents aretaking place at:

ENGLAND footballers past andfuture are being lined up to helpStoke-on-Trent celebrate itsEuropean City of Sport 2016status.

There are plans to honour starsof the 1966 World Cup winningside with a gala dinner – amongthem Stoke City President GordonBanks who has been named a Cityof Sport Ambassador. Discussionswith Kidsgrove-based renownedpromoter Carl Holness are goingwell.

Talks are also underway tostage an England versusGermany schoolboy internationalto mark the 50-year anniversaryof the historic Wembley final.

The sides would wearreplica kits with thewinners getting a JulesRimet style trophy.

Other events beingplanned now the city council hasearmarked£3.5million to

spend include a Lord Mayor’sGames, a Stoke-on-Trenttriathlon and communityengagement activities with freetaster sessions at sports clubsand venues across the city.

Grassroots sport will featurealongside elite high profileevents like the Tour of Britaincycle stage which returned to thecity for the seventh time inSeptember and is part of apackage aiming to inspire thelocal people to take part in morephysical activity.

One big event now confirmedis the mass participation 10kmCancer Research UK SnowflakeRun which takes place at Hanley

Park on 24 January.Event ManagerAmy Hall said: “I

believe this is areally excitingevent forStoke and abrilliant oneto kick offthe city

being European City of Sport. Iam really looking forward to acompletely new event and gettinglocal people running at a time ofyear when they wouldn’t usually.”

Michelle Adams, the citycouncil’s Acting Head ofEconomic Development, Cultureand Sport, said: “We’re immenselyproud of our achievement and arereally looking forward to workingwith our partners to make nextyear a spectacular one for Stoke-on-Trent.

“We’ve had some fantasticfeedback from recent events andare excited to be in talks with anumber of local and nationalorganisations around what wecould bring to the city for 2016and beyond.

“Stoke-on-Trent already has agreat story to tell and our year as

European City of Sport will starta new chapter – one we hopeeveryone will be part of andwhich will leave a lasting legacyfor a true sporting city.”

To stay up to date with theEuropean City of Sportprogramme, go tostoke.gov.uk/CityOfSport16

10 City News WINTER 2015 WINTER 2015 City News 11

SCHOOL children acrossStoke-on-Trent are set to playtheir part as European City ofSport status spreads the feelgood factor.

Hundreds of youngsters fromsecondary schools could competeat the Lord Mayor’s Games eventin March while a city wide mass

fun run is also in the planningstage.

Nigel Edwards is Manager ofthe Stoke School SportPartnership which was set up in2001 to maintain and raise sportparticipation levels in all schools.

He said: “European City ofSport status will give schools a

real boost and our children havean exciting part to play inhelping the city celebrate sport,health and well-being.

“Schools’ awareness of thebenefits of taking part hasdefinitely improved and nowprimary schools have a budget of£9,000 a year for sport. It’s raised

the profile even more.“It’s still a challenge at

secondary level but maintaininga strong competition calendar isvery important as is an accent onhealth and wellbeing toencourage children to enjoyexercise and sport after they’veleft school.”

ROWERS at Trentham Boat Clubquite literally put the oar inawesome with their dedication tothe sport and haul of nationaltitles.

Among the 120 junior andsenior members at the club aged10 to 70 are brothers AlekConnell, 18, and 15-year-oldtwins Anton and Gregor.

Their dad Andy, who followedthem into the sport a couple ofyears ago, said: “Ourachievements as a club have

gone under the radar to a certainextent but we’re hoping City ofSport status can raise our profileand attract new members.

“We have plenty of champions– Lucy Cruxton for example isgoing to the Olympics in Rionext year as part of the GBunder 23 squad and one of mysons Anton is preparing for GBjunior trials.

“All our junior memberscompete and about two thirds ofthe seniors. We’re already

promoting Stoke-on-Trent’s Cityof Sport status through socialmedia and carry its brandingwhen we travel to events aroundthe country.

“We’re also planning tasterdays so anyone who’s interestedcan come down and give rowinga try. It’s not expensive, ourmembership is cheaper than afootball team, and it’s really goodfun.”■ To find out more, visittrenthamboatclub.co.uk

WORLD CUP STARSIN EURO LINE UP

Hundreds of pupils to compete in the Lord Mayor’s Games

Dedicated rowers put the oar in awesomeWorld Cup hero Gordon Banks

who is a City of Sport Ambassador.

Gymnast Ethan Lewis, aged 13,a student at the Excel Academyspecialist sports college, SneydGreen, will be one of hundreds ofStoke-on-Trent students taking partin the Lord Mayor’s Games in March.

Netball player Jodie Collins, aged 12, a student at the Excel Academy specialistsports college, is looking forward to many extra sports events in the city next year.

Former British athletics stars, triple jumper Jonathan Edwards and sprint hurdlerColin Jackson pictured at a launch event for the European City of Sport.

Trentham Boat Club rower Annie Dixon, aged 15, on the water at Trentham Lake. Our front page photo features fellowclub members Joe Ford, left, and Gregor Connell, who are also both aged 15.

Flashback to the triumphant moment in 1966 when the Queen presentedthe World Cup trophy to England captain Bobby Moore.

TRADE expert Rob Lawleyis urging business across thecity to embrace City of Sportstatus and tap in to themulti-million poundopportunities it will bring.

He predicts thatStoke-on-Trent can matchSpanish city Lograno whoused their sporting year in2014 to boost their economyby 44 million Euros.

Rob, the StaffordshireHead of International Tradefor the Government’s UKTrade and Investmentdepartment, said: “Theimpact on Stoke-on-Trent inraising the city profileshould not beunderestimated.

“It will help businessesfrom all sectors, not justthose directly connected tosport who already employ4,000 people in the city inroles ranging from casuallifeguards to PremierLeague footballers.

“City of Sport status willboost tourism and willobviously bring in muchbusiness for hotels,restaurants and bars. Theopportunities and benefitswon’t just last for the year.The legacy it leaves willmean many moreopportunities for years tocome.

“And let’s not forget that itwill encourage morePotteries people to getinvolved in sport. Studiesshow a healthy workforce isa happy and moreproductive workforce sosport will improve business.”

Status is setto boost city’seconomy

WINTER 2015 City News 1312 City News WINTER 2015

SIXappeal

News fromaround

the towns

THERE is good news for the whole city asthe council builds a stronger future foreach of Stoke-on-Trent’s Six Towns.

As well as big progress in the citycentre, things are moving forward inTunstall, Burslem, Stoke, Fenton andLongton. The city council is talking tobusinesses, communities and otherpartners to find out what improvementsthey would like to see on the ground.

The aim is to use the towns’ uniquequalities to make them more attractive topeople from outside the area, boostingfootfall and pulling in much-neededrevenue.

Hanley’s Smithfield development isopening for business with council teamsmoving in to the multi-coloured officebuilding this month and privatecompanies already negotiating space inthe other (see page five).

Elsewhere in the city centre the£11.5million scheme to improve the lookof streets and main retail areas iscomplete, and the £20 million extensionto the Intu Potteries Shopping Centrewill open before Christmas, including anine screen multiplex cinema andquality branded restaurants.

In Tunstall, the Alexandra Parkdevelopment is now complete with theopening of Costa Coffee and Specsavers.The popular development either side ofthe main A50 includes top nameretailers, restaurants and leisurefacilities.

Elsewhere in the town the city councilwill be looking at lifting bus lanerestrictions on the High Street toimprove access and traffic flow.

Things are really moving in Burslemwith the opening of the new HaywoodSixth Form Academy in the old town halland work pressing on with constructionof the modern extension on the oldCeramica site which will house hundredsmore students. The city council investedhundreds of thousands of pounds in theinitiative which has breathed new lifeinto the town centre.

The council was also a main financialbacker of the restoration of the historic

Wedgwood Institute on Queen Street.The first phase of internal works is nowcomplete.

In Stoke, councillors have agreed tospend almost £1.8million on bringing theSpode Works back into use.

The proposed works will help progressthe regeneration of this important site,bring vacant historic buildings on the siteback into use, in particular those aroundthe entrance courtyard and refurbish theformer Directors’ Block. The work willreduce the cost of maintaining the siteand potentially provide some rentalincome.

Businesses in Fenton have spoken tothe city council about improving traffic

flow at the junction of ChristchurchStreet and City Road – so the council hasdecided to remove a bus gate at thejunction to improve access to the VictoriaSquare area and improve safety.

And in Longton one of the city’s mosthistoric pottery companies – Hudson andMiddleton – has undergone a majorfacelift and refurbishment to open a newvisitor centre showcasing traditionalskills of the ceramics industry.Visitorswill be able to watch productionprocesses including casting, dipping,gilding and lithography, as well as seeingthe company’s prestige fine bone chinaproduct ranges.

The company received financial

support from English Heritage and theEuropean Regional Development Fund(ERDF). The centre is set to open to thepublic in mid November.

Councillor Jack Brereton, CabinetMember for Regeneration, Transport andHeritage, said: “Each of the towns has itsown unique identity which has got to betheir unique selling point. The townscan’t survive and thrive on their ownpopulations alone, so it’s vital wecontinue to improve their vibrancy toincrease footfall and revenues.”● Look out for more exciting newsfrom Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke,Fenton and Longton in the Six Appealfeature in the next City News.

ANOTHER communityinvolvement event is plannedin the New Year as theCoalition continues to buildits Stronger Togetherpartnership with the peopleand organisations ofStoke-on-Trent.

The Kings Hall feedbacksession on a date yet to befixed is part of the new rulinggroup’s ongoing commitmentto understanding whatmatters most to those wholive and work in the city.

Councillor RandolphConteh, Cabinet Member forHousing, Communities andSafer City, said: “I’ve been acouncillor for 13 years andwhen I started I thought Icould change the world on myown.

“But I’ve come to realisethat my energy and passionalone is not enough. We needcommunity involvement andpartnerships because we arestronger together. That’s not apolitical statement. It’s adirection that we as a councilare going in.

“We don’t want to tell, wewant to ask. It’s not about justtelling people what we’regoing to do. We’re gaugingpeople’s views and thenworking with them as theyhelp shape our direction as acouncil. Some people may saywe listen and then just dowhat we want anyway, butthat’s not the case and we’realready seeing positivechange.

“Our co-operative workingservice is already benefittingpeople across the city as theyare supported to lead betterlives and we want to set upmore area forums – minicommittees which will givemore people a voice.

“Community involvement iskey to what we can achieveand I’m hopeful we will seehundreds of people at theco-operative workingrelaunch event, at the KingsHall, in the New Year.”

INVESTING IN A STRONGERFUTURE FOR WHOLE CITY

Communityinvolvementand realpartnershipsare crucial

Toasting the new visitor centre at Hudsonand Middleton pottery factory are ManagingDirector Mike Shirley and Director Helen Smith.

Stoke resident Jane Kidall, a Staffordshire University Ceramic Degreegraduate, studies an exhibit at the British Ceramics Biennial which wasstaged at Spode Works. Councillors have approved a £1.8million scheme toregenerate the historic building.

The bus gateway at Christchurch Street is tobe removed to improve traffic flow around thetown after requests from residents and traders.

Intu Potteries Shopping Centre AssistantMarketing Manager Louise Kennerley looksthrough final plans for the £20millionextension to the centre with ConstructionSite Manager Robert Hope.

An eye-catching feature of the new HaywoodSixth Form Academy is a Speaker’s Corner whichwas officially unveiled by Speaker of the House ofCommon John Bercow. Pictured on the podium arestudents Ryan Lench, left, and Zac Lewis.

Office worker Jade Hammond takes a coffeebreak at Costa Coffee on the Alexander Parkretail development which is now complete.

SMOKERS wholight up in the carwhen travelling withchildren under 18face a £50 fine aftera change in the law.

The new rule hasbeen introduced in Englandand Wales to protect childrenfrom the dangers of secondhand smoke. Every time achild breathes in second handsmoke, they breathe inthousands of chemicals,which put them at risk ofserious conditions includingmeningitis, cancer, andrespiratory infections such asbronchitis and pneumonia.

To find out more about thenew law visit stoke.gov.uk/smokefree

One of the city’s PublicHealth Team’s main prioritiesis helping as many people aspossible to quit smoking.

For free local help andsupport to kick the habit call0800 085 0928 or textsmokefree to 60777.

TUNSTALL LONGTON

BURSLEM

HANLEY

FENTON STOKE

Law protectschildren fromsmoking risks


PEOPLE are being urged to putthe right rubbish in their blue binto help avoid a big problemwhich is costing the city counciltime and money.

When the wrong rubbish is putin a blue bin the council has toseparate out useful materials. Ifthis cannot be done then thewhole recycling load will berejected.

Despite the efforts of manyconscientious residents, toomuch recyclable material isbeing lost due to thiscontamination, which also affectshow the council performsagainst strict Governmenttargets.

Council Waste MinimisationOfficer Clare Britton said:“Through recycling, we are

trying to protect theenvironment and keep costsdown, which is in the bestinterests of the city andresidents.

“It would help greatly if lidscould be taken off plastic bottlesbefore bottle and top are put inthe blue bin. Ensuring that anyfood and liquid is emptied is alsoessential as this cuts down onweight and helps with sorting.”

More than 6.28 billion plasticbottles are not recycled eachyear in the UK, leaving councilswith a £24.3million disposal bill.

Council Assistant Director ofOperational Management BarryBrockbank said: “Contaminationin the blue bin is a significantproblem in Stoke-on-Trent andis something we are trying toreduce. People often wrongly

think that items such as nappiescount as plastics and cantherefore go in their blue bins,but they can’t actually.

“We’ve seen electrical items,hosepipes, washing-up bowlsand even rolls of carpet in bluebins. These plastics cannot beprocessed and have to berejected as waste. Throughpaying attention to the do’s anddon’ts and taking care to onlyput the right things in blue bins,we can reduce contaminationand help boost recycling rates inthe city.”

The materials for the blue bin,or green box if you do not have ablue bin, are:● Plastic bottles and food tubs

such as drinks, milk, shampoo,detergent and shower gelbottles, yoghurt pots as well as

ice cream and butter tubs.● Metals such as drink cans,

tins, clean tin foil, foiltakeaway containers andempty aerosols.

● Cardboard such as pizza,cereal and egg boxes.

● Glass including bottles andjars.

● Paper including newspaper,magazines, junk mail andcatalogues, must be collectedseparately in a green box orblue bag.

● Electrical items, furniture,batteries and other homewaste and rubble should bedisposed of at the council’sHousehold Waste andRecycling Centres in Burslemand Hanford.

■ For a full recycling list, goto stoke.gov.uk/recycling

EACH and every householdcan help boost the citycouncil’s current 34 per centrecycling rate by doing theirpart to make sure they use theblue bins correctly.

From saving money toimproving the environment,making an effort to recycle andpaying attention to the do’sand don’ts makes the city

better for everyone. Byrecycling more, money spentby the council onunnecessarily incineratingwaste could instead be used indeveloping the city, forexample building new schoolsand leisure facilities, fixingpotholes and supportingvulnerable people.

Recycled items are used to

make new products meaningfewer raw materials need to beused in the first place – savingboth these limited naturalresources and money.■ Brown bin collections forgarden waste are beingextended to 27 Novemberbecause of the warm autumn.They begin again on 7 Marchnext year.

A £1 million anti-fly-tippingdrive is going from strength tostrength, with four teams ofenvironmental action officerscracking down on hundreds oftonnes of dumped waste.

As part of the city council’sPride in the Communityinitiative, the taskforceresponds rapidly to removerubbish and gather evidenceagainst the culprits, who thenface a fine and the seizure oftheir vehicle.

Since they started work inJuly, the teams have tackled1,953 cases of fly-tipping, ofwhich 16 were hazardouswaste and cut their responsetime from 3.6 days to less than24 hours.

The backlog of fly-tippinghotspots has been cleared andthe taskforce is now focusingon visiting each city ward on arota basis in a bid to makeStoke-on-Trent cleaner andsafer for all.

Street cleansing crews visiteach site two days before thetaskforce to gather evidenceas part of the city council’szero-tolerance policy for flytipping and environmentalcrime.

Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilAssistant Director ofOperational ManagementBarry Brockbank said: “Beingproactive rather than reactiveto clamp down on fly-tippingis key. By sending streetcleansing teams out beforethe fly-tipping taskforce tosurvey the area and gatherevidence, the speed at whichthe rubbish is cleared and theculprits are caught issignificantly increased.

“The teams have done agreat job in clearing thebacklog of issues and can nowfocus on visiting each wardone-by-one to tackle areasbefore problems get thechance to develop.”■ Members of the public canreport instances of fly-tippingand littering by contacting01782 234234.

TOP eco-school Forest ParkPrimary at Hanley has gonethe extra mile by turningplastic bottles into bird feedersand a full-sized greenhouse.

Bottles were woven around awooden frame to form thegreenhouse, which is used bythe gardening club, whilewooden sticks were securedthrough others to make birdfeeders dotted around theplayground.

The school has received aGreen Flag award inrecognition of its work onrecycling, sustainability,biodiversity and Fair Trade.

Green Flag is part ofinternational award

programme Eco-Schools, andthey are assessed on criteriaincluding the development ofthree sustainability-relatedprojects and the creation of aneco-committee.

Eco Co-ordinator HilaryAlcock said: “We are really intorecycling as a school and weare always reminding andencouraging children to thinkbefore they put something inthe bin.

“All our pupils are keen onrecycling and have developeda real interest in being green.They are very much aware ofwhat different types of foodand packaging can go in eachdifferent bin.”

GLASS

METALS

CARDBOARD

PLASTICS


RIGHT RUBBISHIN RIGHT BINS

Tough fly-tipping clampdown isgoing from strength to strength

AS a new Waste MinimisationOfficer for Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil, Clare Britton hopes tohelp make recycling secondnature to residents of the city.

Clare said: “I recentlygraduated from university andam very proud to have landedthe role of waste minimisation

officer. I’ve lived in the city allmy life and jumped at thechance to help improve thearea environmentally.

“My role is to inform andeducate residents about whatcan and cannot be put intoeach bin. But I don’t just wantto tell people what to do – I

want to explain why thatparticular item can or cannotgo in that bin.

“I want to encourageresidents to have ownershipover their waste, be proud ofthe city and environment welive in and to be a cleaner,greener community.”

Households can help to cut waste costs

Promoting cleaner, greener community

Pupils recycle plastic bottlesto create bird feeders andfull-sized school greenhouse

Environmental Response Officer Ashton Lovatt clears up a fly-tipping mess at Normacot.

Waste Minimisation Officer ClareBritton is aiming to encourage more

people to recycle more of their waste.

Yards Person Shaun Bithell tidies up a mountain of recycled newspapersand magazines at Burslem’s Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Forest Park Primarypupil Aysu Tonaydin witha bird feeder made froma recycled plastic bottle.

Pupil Kirsty-Mae Wragg in the school greenhouse built using recycledplastic bottles and holding a wreath made from the bottoms of the bottles.


COMMUNITY pride isgrowing in Smallthornewhere a new group set upto tackle neighbourhoodissues already has morethan 800 members.

The brainchild of ChairJulie Walton, A BetterSmallthorne started outearlier this year as aFacebook page but nowstages regular meetingswith partners rangingfrom the city council’sLocal Matters team aswell as primary schools,police and localbusinesses.

Vice Chair PaulaMcDonald, a mum of two,said: “It all startedbecause Julie wasunhappy at the state ofthe area.

“We’ve gone fromstrength to strength sincethen and now tackle allsorts of issues like fly-tipping and antisocialbehaviour.

“We organisecommunity events tobring people together andeven set up a dedicatedShop Local SmallthorneFacebook page tohighlight discounts forshop local card holders.

“I’m very proud of whatwe’ve achieved so far.”■ To get involved, followA Better Smallthorne onFacebook or the sisterFacebook pageshoplocal@smallthorneand visit the group’swebsite abettersmallthorne.btck.co.uk/

MIDDLEPORT has lost itsmojo according to a newresident who has set up agroup to bring the communitytogether. Amelia Bilson’sMiddleport Matters Facebookpage is already creatinginterest but she wants peopleto join a properly constituted

group. She has city councilfunding for a Respect Day andis busy contacting residents,businesses, schools andchurches.

She said: “There are a lot ofnew and established residentsin Middleport who don’t reallyknow each other. The

community has been up againstit and has lost its mojo. I havetwo small boys and just wantthem to live in a nice place andhave a good future. That’s mymotivation.”■ To find out more and getinvolved, email [email protected]

BASFORD Park and a popular playarea are being given a majorfacelift after residents securedalmost £45,000.

Trees and a wildlife gardenhave been planted, footpathsimproved and bird and bat boxesinstalled to make the park moreattractive and welcoming tovisitors.

Around £25,000 of the moneywill go on improving the FordStreet play area – known locallyas The Grum.

Basford and Cliffe Vale

Residents’ Association secured themoney from a variety of sources,including the Environmental Trust,local company Cemax and bids forlottery and community funding.Developers St Modwen, who arebuilding new homes in the area,also made a significantcontribution.

Residents’ Association ChairJohn Beech said: “We have veryfew amenities for local residentsand the park is the only publicgreen space in the Basford area so it’s essential that we are able to improve it.”

Facebook.com/sotcitycouncil or Twitter @SoTCityCouncilContact the council via social media on

focus

TWO new residentsassociations have been setup in Florence byCouncillor Lilian Dodd tocover different areas ofthe neighbourhood.

New Florence ResidentsAssociation is chaired byArif Hussain who haspreviously been involvedwith other communitygroups.

He said: “We wanted toraise concerns in the arearegarding issues such aslitter, dog fouling,overgrown verges,antisocial behaviour forthe council to take action.”

He thanked Councillor

Dodd and CouncillorSadaqat Maqsoom forproviding money fromtheir ward budget for acommunity notice board.

To get involved contactArif on 07900 264211 orTreasurer Jenny Sladekon 07866 203976.

The second organisationis Florence ResidentsAssociation. CouncillorDodd said: “We’d loveeveryone to get involvedto improve the area.”

For more informationcontact the Florence RASecretary by [email protected]

Amelia wants Middleport to regain its mojo

Park givena facelift

PEOPLE from all over thecity are being invited tojoin in with the host ofChristmas events beingstaged by Joiners SquareResidents Association.

A table top sale withstalls selling everythingfrom vintage items tohandmade crafts will bestaged on 29 Novemberwith the chance browseand enjoy festive musicand refreshments.

Residents AssociationChair Peter Yates said:“We’re also hosting a fourcourse Christmas dinnerin early December –anyone is welcome. We’realways encouraging morepeople to get involved withour community events.”■ For more information,email [email protected].

More than 800 sign upto A Better Smallthorne

Residents drum upbacking for action

Join them atJoiners Square

Resident John Webb and his daughter Abbie

enjoy a walk in Basford Park.

Paula McDonald, Vice Chair of A Better Smallthorne, is given helplitter picking by Olivia Bourne and

her son Marley Oldfield.

New Florence Residents’ Association Chair Arif Hussain, back row centre, is joinedby other residents in distributing a leaflet urging people to become involved.


NEW parents can now registerthe birth of their babieswithout leaving hospital.Mums and dads of babiesborn at the Royal StokeUniversity Hospital are ableto visit a registrar based inthe maternity unit.

They just need to add theirname to an appointment liston the main wards, or visit theregistrar located on the firstfloor, in the waiting area nearto the lift. A short birthcertificate is issued free ofcharge at registration,although full certificates oradditional copies of shortcertificates can also bebought.

The service is a jointventure, led by theStoke-on-Trent RegistrationService and supported by thecity council’s public healthdepartment.

Dr Lesley Mountford,Director of Public Health,added: “Births have to beregistered within 42 days, andonce mother and baby havereturned home it can bedifficult for them to make it tothe register office at HanleyTown Hall.”

Karen Meadowcroft, Headof Midwifery at the hospital,said: “This new service isextremely convenient forfamilies, particularly since thetransfer of maternity servicesfrom Stafford earlier this year,as mothers are now travellingfrom all over Staffordshire togive birth in Stoke-on-Trent.”■ For more information onthis new service visitstoke.gov.uk/registrars, call01782 235260 or [email protected]

BURIED under a mountain of debtand facing eviction, CharlotteHanks was eight months pregnantwhen a Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil officer came to her hometo discuss her family’s options.

Once he got to the bottom oftheir problems, he quicklyinvolved the Citizens AdviceBureau and Housing Benefit staff as part of the council's newco-operative working serviceinvolving one key worker co-ordinating all areas of supportto help people have better lives.

With a payment plan in place,the family has now paid rentarrears of £500 and a Debt ReliefOrder is being processed to cleartheir other debts.

Charlotte, mum to new-bornbaby Archie and three-year-oldRyley, said: “My husband Kieronhad been redundant. That meantno wages and we couldn’t claimincome support or housingbenefit.

“We had no food in thecupboards and were onemergency gas. I just buried myhead in the sand. It was anightmare.

“When the council officer cameto the house I was in tears. Hetold us we needed help and hewas brilliant. He went the extramile for us, sorting out a foodparcel and topping up our gasand electricity.”

Benefit claims were organisedand the family is now on an evenkeel with Kieron preparing to goback to work when his recyclingfirm re-opens.

“If the council officer hadn’tdone what he did we would havebeen evicted,” Charlotte said.“We’re a lot happier now and I’mhoping to go to college whenArchie starts nursery so I canopen my own business.

“We’ve got a clean slate nowand a fresh start. We’ve learnednow to make sure we pay ourbills and what little we can savewe do.”

RESIDENTS are beingreminded that each propertywithin the city should nowhave a Household EnquiryForm (HEF) as part of theannual electoral registrationprocess.

The forms confirm who iseligible to vote at eachaddress and send any personwho is not registered aninvitation to do so.

All households are requiredto respond to their form. Newresidents who have addedtheir name to the HEF willalso need to complete anindividual application toregister to vote. This can bedone quickly and easily atwww.gov.uk/register-to-vote■ If you have any queriesabout voting or registration,please contact the electionsteam directly on 01782233800 or email [email protected]

VITAL SUPPORTCHANGES LIVES

Birth can nowbe registeredat hospitalmaternity unit

Respondingto forms isimportantTHE iconic weeping window

ceramic poppies displayfrom the Tower of Londoncould be coming toStoke-on-Trent.

Organisers of the WorldWar One commemorationinvolving 880,000 poppieswill visit the city to decide ifa similar display can be setup at the Bethesda Chapelin Hanley.

Workers at Tunstall-basedJohnson Tiles hand-madehalf the poppies and Etruriafirm Potclays providing theclay.

Writer and local historianFred Hughes said: “Theinstallation’s designers cameto the city as we couldsupply the quantity ofbeautiful, intricate poppiesneeded, so there is everyhope that the decision willbe made to bring them backto Stoke-on-Trent.

“It would be fantastic tosee the flowers cascading

onto the Bethesda gardens,from a building ofextraordinary heritage thatis both virtually theepicentre of the city anddeeply embedded in thecultural quarter.”

The Bethesda Chapel,known as the Cathedral ofthe Potteries, was restoredin 2003 after it featured onBBC programmeRestoration.

It has also received £5,000from the Heritage Lottery

Fund to create an exhibitionon the lives of 274 mennamed on their WW1 Roll ofHonour as part of the fund’sFirst World War: Then andNow programme.

Renewed bid to bring ceramic poppies display to city

Charlotte Hankswith her baby Archie.

A computer-generatedimage of how the weepingwindow display would lookat the Bethesda Chapel.


[email protected] contact the council by email

DOZENS of parents across the city arefinding new routes to training and jobsthrough volunteering at their localchildren’s centre. By helping out at thecentres they can start to learn new skills,and get the support they need to achievequalifications and eventually find work.

The Start Up Citywide initiative is run byYMCA North Staffordshire in partnershipwith children’s centres and helps peopleinto work, boosting confidence andsupporting job applications.

So far hundreds of people have foundjobs through Start Up. Deepa Mistry firstvolunteered at Westfield Children’s Centrein Normacot 12 years ago after the birth ofher first child.

Since then, the 33-year-old has helped inmany roles including and now works as atraining and employment coach for StartUp Citywide. Deepa said: “When I wasvolunteering, I studied for as many coursesas I could including food hygiene, first aidand elderly care. There are so many

opportunities available and getting stuckinto a bit of everything really helped meget to where I am now.

“The tutors who provide the courses arealso really friendly – we all had a laughwhile completing our work and everyonegot on really well. I made a lot of friendsduring my time volunteering and we allstill keep in touch.”● To find out more about volunteering andStart Up Citywide, contact a local children’scentre. The details are online at stoke.gov.uk

FIREFIGHTERS are urging residents to takeextra care in their homes now that the coldwinter nights have drawn in.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service isencouraging people to always switch offheaters if they are not in the same room orare going to bed. They should be placed atleast one metre away from fabric andfurniture and never used to dry clothes.

It is important to only use gas and paraffinheaters in well-ventilated areas and,

although the service advises against usingbio-ethanol and gel fuel burners, if residentsdo choose to use them, it is vital that safetywarnings and manufacturer's instructionsare followed. People who have an open fireshould use a fireguard, make sure chimneysand flues are maintained and that ash isdisposed of carefully.

Head of Risk Reduction Jim Bywater said:“We tend to see an increase in the number ofchimney and tumble dryer fires at this time

of year as people start to use them againwithout carrying out maintenance work.Youwouldn’t drive your car without its annualMOT and service so make sure that youdon’t put your life and the lives of yourfamily at risk by not carrying out similarchecks on devices in your home.”■ Visit staffordshirefire.gov.uk for moreinformation on fire safety in your home.To book a free Home Fire Risk Check call0800 0241 999.

A second police cadet unit hasbeen launched in the city aspart of Staffordshire Police andCrime Commissioner MatthewEllis’ aspiration to promote goodcitizenship to the county’syoung people.

For young people aged 14 to17, the Longton unit meets oncea week at the Community FireStation. It already has 20members with another fourjoining shortly.

Units in Stafford, Cannock,Burslem, Tamworth and mostrecently Longton, are backed bybusiness sponsorship whichfunds uniforms and equipment.The units are voluntarily run bypolice officers, PCSOs andSpecial Constables.

Cadets learn a variety ofskills all designed to improvetheir confidence while buildingtheir leadership qualities andunderstanding of what it is tobe a good citizen.

Mr Ellis said: “The idea is notto recruit to the police but togive young people, some fromchallenging backgrounds, apositive and vibrant programmethat they can learn from. It’sprincipally about helping thembuild character and a sense ofcivic duty no matter what theirchallenges are. We don’t want towrite young people off but helpthem prepare to be bettercitizens and have theopportunities they deserve.

“My ambition is to have 300cadets by next year and link ourscheme into the NationalCitizen Service. We’re alreadymaking headway with someheart rending results as we turnyoung people around and getthem on the right track.”■ For more details on cadetsand how to become a patronor sponsor, visitstaffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/police-cadets

Voluntary working gives parents new routes to training and jobs

SECOND CADETUNIT LAUNCHED

Root ‘n’ Fruit steering groupmember Alan Christian pictured

at the project’s allotment with plot holders George Eardley,

centre, and John Jackson.

MEMBERS of a thrivingcommunity allotment projectthat donates produce to peoplein need are hoping to helpStoke-on-Trent become aSustainable Food City.

Root ‘n’ Fruit, based atTrubshaw Cross Allotments inMiddleport, links schools,businesses and local people toencourage them to learn about

and grow fruit and vegetables.All produce grown on the

1,000 square metre site isdonated to people that areexperiencing difficulty inaffording to buy food.

Companies including SteeliteInternational, Michelin andTesco support the project,which also helps collect andredistribute surplus fruit and

vegetables grown on otherallotments across the area.

Due to its success, theoriginal plot has more thandoubled in size and Root ‘n’Fruit is now in the process of working with the citycouncil to help establish how Stoke-on-Trent can be healthier and more ecofriendly with food.

Allotment group donate food to the needy

Residents urged to take extra care with fires and heaters

Schoolmealrecipe

Sweet chillichickenWEST Midlands School Chef ofthe Year Vicky Brammer, pictured,who works at The CrescentAcademy in Meir, has devised asweet chilli chicken recipe that isboth simple and nutritious.

Vicky said:“This is a recipe thatwe are using for taster sessions inschools at the moment.The dishdoes require some preparationwork but is well worth the effortas it tastes delicious.”

INGREDIENTS(makes four portions):170g diced chicken breast,30g chunkily cut yellow peppers,30g sliced carrots,15g sliced radish,15g courgette (Cut with a vegetable peeler)45g sliced red onion,1/4 packet of sliced baby corn,30g chopped mange tout,zest of 1/4 lemon,4g fresh chopped coriander,1 crushed garlic clove,1/2 bunch spring onions,cornflour to thicken,7g chicken bouillon,140ml water,55g rice,1 block of noodles,1 small egg,1/4 tsp five spice powder,85ml vegetable oil,30ml soy sauce,salt and pepper to taste.

For the sweet chilli sauce:1 red pepper, 1 chilli pepper, 50mlwhite wine vinegar, 50g caster sugar,100ml water, 1/2 garlic clove, 7gginger, 1 squeeze of lemon juice.

METHOD:Sweet chilli sauce:Deseed red pepper and chilli pepperand dice. Place in a saucepan withwater, sugar, white wine vinegar,garlic and ginger. Bring to the boiland simmer for 3 minutes, beforeblending contents of saucepan in ablender. Return to saucepan andreduce to a sticky jam, adding 1squeeze of lemon juice.

Chinese sweet chilli chicken:Prepare all vegetables. Marinatechicken in 15ml soy sauce, gratedlemon zest and five spice. Heat 15mlvegetable oil in a wok and addchicken and 1 crushed garlic clove.Cook until it starts to colour, thenremove from pan. Wipe pan andheat 15ml vegetable oil. Stir-fry redonions and a crushed garlic clove for1 minute. Add carrot, courgette,radish, mange tout and babycorn –stir-fry for a further minute. Add chillisauce mixture, rest of soy sauce,water and chicken stock. Addchicken to the pan, stirring to coat,before adding chopped corianderand spring onions.

Egg fried rice:Heat 15ml vegetable oil in wok. Stirin rice until it begins to heat. Make awell in centre of pan and add 10mlvegetable oil. Once oil is hot, addeggs that have been whisked with15ml soy sauce and a pinch of salt.Stir eggs in the centre of the panuntil they start to scramble – thenmix well through the rice and seasonwith salt and pepper.Serve with chilli chicken.


THE team spearheading thecitywide fight against povertyinsists it has to be won after aHardship Commission revealedmore than a third of thepopulation are on the bread line.

It comes as Governmentfigures confirmed thatStoke-on-Trent is one of the 20most deprived areas in thecountry – a city where 34 percent of workers live inhouseholds with income on orbelow the poverty threshold.

Commission Chairman andYMCA North Staffordshire ChiefExecutive Danny Flynn said: “This

is a 100-year-old problem. We’vebeen a low wage economy as ourtraditional industries collapsedduring the 90s and we now facefurther challenges with pressureon family incomes.”

Set up by the city council,commission members includingStaffordshire Chambers ofCommerce and the CitizensAdvice Bureau are now drawingup action plans after makingseveral recommendations in areport.

They focus on work in four keyareas – cost of living andbenefits, housing and security,work and earnings as well as

education, training and skills.Danny said: “For many families

buying the kids new shoes forschool or paying the rent is a

brutal reality. These families arenot scroungers, eating takeawaysand watching 50-inch televisions.It’s a myth and our report clearlychallenges those myths.

“Living in poverty is hard work,no one chooses to be poor so wemust help. There isn’t onesolution and we’re notapportioning blame as werecognise that the statutory,voluntary and private sectorsmust work together.

“Perhaps our most importantasset will be the brilliant,generous and neighbourly peopleof this great city. Our city’s mottois united we are stronger andthat is the attitude of thecommission.

“It is a call for us all to improveeach other’s lives. Together wecan make a difference.”

POVERTY FIGHTHAS TO BE WON

Hardship Commission ChairmanDanny Flynn.

Figures reveal 34 per cent ofcity workers live on breadline

WOULD-BE teacher Tom Hulme juggleshis Open University studies andfatherhood on benefits of £6,000 a year ashe works hard for a better future.

The 26-year-old and his baby son Koreyhave a house in Fenton. His partner TashaColes,who is also taking an OpenUniversity degree course, shares parentingbut lives elsewhere.

They are supported by Stoke-on-Trent

City Council’s Early Help team and theYMCA. The couple received variousbenefits including income support as wellas Employment and Support Allowance.

Tom, who used to earn £19,000 a yearworking in an alarm monitoring centre,said: “Family illness meant I had to give itup. It was my choice so I’m notcomplaining but back then I had sparecash and a car.

“Now everything we do has to beplanned in advance and we have to saveup. We can’t buy luxuries. We buy cheapfood and budget. It’s no life.

“But I know what I’m working towards.We’re getting plenty of support and I’mlooking forward to the day I can get back towork, have some spare money and have anormal life. My aim is obviously to get theright job and career.”

Tom Hulme andTasha Coles withtheir son Korey.

Couple working towards better future for their family

Fundingopportunityfor projectsto get peopleinto workHUNDREDS of people inStoke-on-Trent could behelped into work through a£10 million Big Lottery andEuropean Social Fundproject.

The Building BetterOpportunities scheme willsee three projects launchedacross Staffordshire toreduce poverty by tacklingbarriers to unemploymentand training.

Around half of the moneywill be available for a projectcovering Stoke-on-Trent,Newcastle and theStaffordshire Moorlands andboth private and publicsector organisations haveuntil 30 November to apply.

Projects must be completedby 2019. The scheme inNorth Staffordshire aims tohelp 1,622 people, supportingat least 14 per cent to get ajob and 17 per cent get intoeducation or training.

Stoke-on-Trent andStaffordshire LocalEnterprise Partnership,which helps bringbusinesses and localauthorities together to driveeconomic growth, is workingwith the Big Lottery Fund todeliver the programme.

Priority areas for action areskills support foremployability and growth,vocational routes toemployability, access toemployment and promotingsocial inclusion.

Council EuropeanProgramme Manager MarkConnell said: “People face arange of issues preventingthem from getting into work,including lack of basic skills,poor literacy and numeracy,as well as addressingpractical barriers such astransport and childcareissues.

“It is hoped that byworking together, ourexisting voluntaryorganisations will be able totake advantage of thisfunding opportunity and bein a position to deliveractivities on the ground onbehalf of our localcommunities.”

ELDERLY residents havemoved into new andimproved accommodationfollowing the £1.6millionmakeover of a shelteredhousing scheme.

The investment atWooldridge Court inSmallthorne has involved 18months of renovation andremodeling. Before the worktook place, 21 out of theoriginal 34 flats – which wereoriginally built in the 1980s –had no bathrooms withresidents sharing facilities.

Now the renovation hascreated 27 flats, each withen-suite bathrooms andlow-level shower access.

The new accommodationalso includes combinedliving, dining and kitchenareas. Wheelchair turningcircles have been designed inall bedrooms, living areasand kitchens.

£1.6m homesmakeover


COUNCIL tenants have until March to applyfor a £20,000 council grant to help themonto the property ladder.

It means they will have the freedom tobuy the home they really want, rather thanjust the council property they rent.

And by encouraging private ownership ofhomes in the city, the council aims to freeup more council houses for 2,200 people onthe waiting list.

Councillor Randolph Conteh, the citycouncil’s Cabinet Member for Housing,Communities and Safer City, said: “Right toBuy has helped thousands of counciltenants to purchase their properties andbecome homeowners, but it has alsoreduced the number of council properties

available for people on the housingwaiting list.

“The Right to Buy Social Mobilityscheme gives tenants the freedomto buy any property they canafford, anywhere in the country,and at a £20,000 discount. Sotenants get to choose where theywant to live and what kind of homethey want to live in, whilepreserving social housing to helpvulnerable applicants.“

He added: “The only catch is that we haveto allocate the funding before next April orthe Government will want it back, so Iwould urge any tenants considering buyingtheir home to contact the council’s HomeOwnership Team on 01782 235540.”

Meanwhile, the time it takes the council toprepare an empty property for new tenantsand let it is at a three-year low.

Huge efforts are going into promoting thefact that properties are available for rent ina certain area, with posters going up inlocal centre windows to advertise them.

Strategic Manager Gary Hall said: “Ourpriority is to assist applicants on thewaiting list in housing need and let aproperty as quickly as possible.

“No-one wants to see council propertiesstanding empty so we are also doingeverything we can to publicise that homesare available.”● To make an application pop into a citycouncil local centre or call the HousingSolutions Service on 01782 233696.

A student has written an open letterto all schools in the city urgingteachers to encourage pupils to getinvolved with democracy from anearly age.

Christian Proctor, who is a sixthform student at St Thomas MoreCatholic Academy in Longton, spent aweek’s work experience with the citycouncil’s Local Matters team and theCouncillor and Civic Support team andlearned about the Young People’sDebate project.

This is a scheme co-ordinated bythe council that gives people underthe age of 18 the opportunity to meetand discuss important issues, givingthem the chance to influence changeand benefit their communities.

Debates can be organised aroundschool or college times making themeasy for pupils to attend.

In his letter, the 17-year-old from

Dresden, said: “My upbringing in thecity has always given me inspirationin the things that I do and theachievements that we as a city haveaccomplished fill me with a sense ofpride and belonging that I cherish.

“The Young People’s Debate canoccur within the Council Chamber,giving a real sense of importance tothe issues raised and an experiencefor young people who, without theprogramme, may never experience asimilar setting.”

He added: “From the eyes of ayoung person myself I really do urgeyou to involve your students in thisprogramme. It is our city, let’s beproud of it.”■ For details about setting up a debatein the council chamber contact theCouncillor and Civic Support team on01782 232751 or [email protected]

Student urges teachers to encouragepupils to get involved with democracy

GRANTS TOBUY HOMES

Kier Stoke tradesmen Lewis Colley,above, and Michael Banks, inset right,prepare a council home for reletting.

Sixth form student ChristianProctor pictured in the councilchamber at the civic centre.

HUNDREDS of new homes could bebuilt in Stoke-on-Trent when the citycouncil launches its own developmentcompany.

It would aim to build houses for saleor rent on hundreds of acres ofderelict brownfield sites – many ofthem owned by the local authority.

Councillor Jack Brereton, theCabinet Member for Regeneration,

Transport and Heritage, said: “Whileprivate sector developers mightstruggle to make some sites workbecause of their need to make certainprofit margins, we can sustaindevelopments with less profit and stillmake a contribution to city finances.”

Similar companies set up by councilsin Birmingham and Telford have beena big success.

Council company to build houses


TRANSFORMATIONAL changes aretaking place over the winter atStaffordshire University as part ofa £40million redevelopment of itsStoke-on-Trent campus.

Approximately 2,400 studentsand 430 members of staff will berelocating to the city fromStafford next September –bringing the total number of fulltime students at Stoke to 9,000and employees to 1,500.

The move sees cutting-edgecourses including those basedaround Computer Game Designand Film and EntertainmentTechnologies make the move too.

It also means a massive boostfor the surrounding economywith the huge injection of peopleliving and working in the area.

To accommodate the influx ofstudents, new courses andfacilities, a series of constructionand refurbishment projects areunderway.

They include a brand newthree-storey metal clad buildingat the heart of the College Roadsite which will include 12teaching areas and generalteaching rooms, IT labs, seminarspace and a new café.

The top three floors of theadjacent Mellor building arebeing refurbished, creating a newhome for Computing, includingindustry-supported suites,equipment, labs and studios.

In addition, The Pavilion andCadman Courtyard is beingtransformed to become the newhome of Media, Music, GamesDesign and TV. The new designwill also provide a larger libraryspace.

The developments complementmajor investments in new halls ofresidence and £30million spenton the Science Centre at the LeekRoad site in recent years.

Staffordshire University DeputyChief Executive and Director ofFinance and InfrastructureMargaret Monckton said: “Lastyear the university announced itsdecision to move to a single maincampus at Stoke-on-Trent by2016.

“We are investing more than£40million to improve the livingand learning environments acrossthe university and the localcommunity, making our newestcity campus an exciting, modernand dynamic place to live andwork, with brilliant learning andteaching facilities, good publictransport links and socialactivities.

“We are now undergoing thisexciting process, with new

facilities planned andpreparations for a new buildingon College Road already wellunderway. This, alongside theother refurbishments of ourexisting buildings, will make surethat our Computing andEntertainment Technologycourses transferring fromStafford are accommodated fullyand our Stoke-on-Trent campusis transformed for the benefit ofall our students.

“The full programme of workscontinues over the next 12months, to provide our studentswith the best possibleexperience.”

Council Leader Dave Conwaysaid: “To see work underway onso many different buildingprojects in the University Quarteris fantastic. It is a real shot in thearm for the local economy and itwill be very exciting to have 9,000students and 1,500 members ofstaff learning, living and workingin our city.”■ Community feedback iswelcome throughout the processby emailing [email protected]

STAFFORDSHIRE-BORN Arthur Berry paintedthe scenes and people of Stoke-on-Trent withsuch a visionary eye that he is sometimes knownas “the Lowry of the Potteries.”

Art lovers are being given the chance to test thestrength of the comparison in a ground-breakingexhibition currently running at the PotteriesMuseum & Art Gallery.

For the first time the working-class artists arebeing exhibited alongside each other, with 37Lowry works (some never before seen in publicand including paintings featuring his famous“matchstick people”) and 35 by Berry making upthe show entitled Observers of Urban Life.

There are intriguing links between the twoartists. Berry (1925-94) once visited the PotteriesArt Gallery to view an exhibition by Lowry(1887-1976) and proclaimed afterwards that theLancashire painter was an influence on his work.As an art teacher, he took his students to visitLowry’s studio.

Though born in Smallthorne, Berry choseBurslem for the centre of his artistic enterpriseas he recorded life around pits, potbanks andpubs – in his own words “a world filled withimages of people and landscape that have beentwisted and worn into strange shapes by hardwork and poverty”.

The idea for the joint exhibition came fromJean Milton, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery’sExhibitions and Interpretations Officer. “Wewere given unique access to a private Lowrycollection held by someone whose father hadclose family connections to the painter,” she said.

“Hanging Berry’s work alongside is a great wayof championing a painter whose character and

themes were unique to Stoke-on-Trent.”The exhibition, which attracted

coachloads of visitors through thesummer when visitor numbers were upby more than 20 per cent, runs until 10

January. Tickets are £5 with concessions at £3.

An artist’s impression of the new threestorey building which is being constructedat the heart of the College Road site.

Sports Hall Assistant Chris Cubley picturedat the newly-renovated campus gym.

Chance to see Lowryand Berry paintingsalongside each other

UNIVERSITYCHALLENGE

£40m investment to transformStoke campus for 9,000 students

Student Nicholas Morreyin a kitchen at a new

accommodation building.

Exhibitions andInterpretations Officer Jean

Milton with Arthur Berry’seasel, chair, hat and paint

palette which are a featureat the exhibition. In thebackground are some of

Berry’s works.


stoke.gov.ukFor more information visit

NEW email newslettersare being launched tohelp residents quicklyand easily keepup-to-date with citycouncil services.

They will featureupdates on events aroundthe city, adult learningcourses, jobs, sports andleisure, museums andlibraries. Twitter updates,business opportunitiesand much more and canbe accessed through asimple online sign-upprocess.

The newsletters arepart of a plan to offermore electronicinformation services toresidents, freeing upcouncil phone lines forthose who need themmost.

Other initiatives willinclude a new councilwebsite, which is planned

for early 2016, as well asnew ways of completingtasks online.

Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil Deputy LeaderCouncillor Abi Brownsaid: “Anything thatallows our residents toaccess information andservices more easily is tobe applauded and thenew email newsletterprovides another stepforward.

“Reducing waitingtimes to the council’stelephone call centre isalso a major priority forthe Coalition and thisservice is one of severalinitiatives to help usachieve that.”

To sign up for updatesfrom the city council, goto stoke.gov.uk/stayconnected and select theareas you would like tobe updated on.

AN event is being held tohighlight the need for fostercarers in Stoke-on-Trent andencourage people to considergetting involved.

Current carers will be onhand to discuss theirexperiences and members ofthe city council’s fosteringrecruitment team will also bepresent. It will take place atHanley Community FireStation on 7 December andwill focus on remindingpeople that there is no suchthing as a typical foster carer.

Potential carers simplyneed to have the time andspace in their lives – it doesnot matter whether they aremarried, single, employed orhave children of their own.

Meanwhile, peopleconsidering adoption arebeing asked to think “outsidethe box” and consider allsorts of children.

There are plenty of peoplewho have been approved toadopt, but few who arewilling to consider the rangeof different children needingpermanent homes in thearea. In particular,Stoke-on-Trent has a highnumber of boys waiting foradoptive families, whilesibling groups, children ofethnic minorities and overfours are also less likely tobe considered.■ To find out more aboutfostering, call therecruitment team on 01782234555, email [email protected] or visit stoke.gov.uk/fostering. For moreinformation on adopting, call01782 235020 or visitstoke.gov.uk/adoption

UNIONS are working closelywith the new city counciladministration to ensurefrontline services areprioritised and jobsprotected wherever possible.

Cabinet members are infrequents talks with unionrepresentatives over keyissues affecting the counciland work closely with themon the most difficultdecisions, such as budgetchanges.

Steve Williams, Convenorfor UNITE the Union, said:“There has been a change ofdirection to some degree butall of the unions feel there ismore accessibility to the newadministration which isencouraging. The leadingcouncillors are activelyseeking the unions’perspective on issuesaffecting the council, itsemployees and residents ofthe city which againencourages good workingrelations.

“It means we can be reallyeffective for the people werepresent at the council andit is also good news forresidents as we can put ourviews forward for prioritisingthe frontline services thatmatter to them.”

LASTING TRIBUTETO WW1 HEROESNew residential roads named in honour of decorated servicemen

Freda Lewis withphotographs of her latefather Thomas Davieswho has had a roadnamed in his honour.

Event aims toencouragepeople to befoster carers

Unions workclosely withnew Cabinet

Council email newsletters will give quick updatesA resident checks out the

latest events listing deliveredby the new email newsletter.

WORLD War One heroes from Stoke-on-Trenthave had roads named in their honour at anew housing project in Trentham Lakes.

So far, seven new roads off StanleyMatthews Way have been named afterSampson Bridgwood, Harold Hines, PercyBoulton, Wilfred Green, Thomas Davies,James Grundy and William Langham. Oneroad on a small development in Fegg Hayeshas also been named John Wallace Close.

As the city develops and grows over thenext four years, each of the 31 decorated

servicemen from the area will have a streetnamed after them, including four in the newSmithfield development.

Bradwell resident Freda Lewis is delightedthat her late father Thomas Davies – whowon the Distinguished Conduct Medal forbravery under fire at the Battle of Loos in1915 – is being honoured with a street sign.

She said: “One hundred years after myfather’s heroics, I’m very proud to say thathe’s one of the first Potteries soldiers to havea street named after him.

“It’s very touching to see him honoured in

this way. I’d like to thank developers StModwen and the council for making thishappen.”

Recipients of the Victoria Cross will also geta dedicated pavement plaque under ascheme being delivered by the Ministry ofDefence.■ There could be many more unknownheroes out there – if you have anyinformation about a friend or familymember who was awarded the militarymedal or higher, please send their detailsto [email protected]


Abbey Hulton and Townsend

MELANIE BADDELEY(City Independents)(01782) 85935407979 [email protected]

RICHARD BROUGHAN(Non-aligned)07881 [email protected]

Bentilee and Ubberley

STEPHEN FUNNELL(Labour)07919 [email protected]

SHEILA PITT(Labour)07957 [email protected]

TERENCE FOLLOWS(City Independents) (01782) 64355307944 [email protected]

DANIEL JELLYMAN(Conservative) (01782) [email protected]

JANINE BRIDGES(City Independents)(01782) 85184207771 [email protected]

ANN JAMES(City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

Baddeley Green, Milton and Norton

JACK BRERETON(Conservative)(01782) 54136807855 [email protected]

DAVE EVANS(Conservative)07447 [email protected]

ANTHONY MUNDAY(City Independents)(01782) 23973707743 [email protected]

Birches Head and Central Forest Park

JEAN BOWERS(City Independents)(01782) 26261307919 [email protected]

SABRINA BOWERS(City Independents)(01782) [email protected]

Blurton East

JOAN BELL(Labour) (01782) 34139807757 [email protected]

Blurton West and Newstead

LLOYD BROWN(Labour)07824 [email protected]

GURMEET SINGHKALLAR(Labour)07900 [email protected]

JOY GARNER (Labour)(01782) 768846 07986 [email protected]: @button1001

LILIAN DODD(City Independents)(01782) 31928507880 [email protected]

CHRIS ROBINSON(Labour)07720 [email protected]

Burslem Central

ALAN DUTTON(City Independents)07982 [email protected]

Boothen and Oakhill

ANDY PLATT(Labour)[email protected]:@CllrAndyST4

MICK BELL(UKIP)(01782) [email protected]

CANDI CHETWYND(Labour)07910 [email protected]

MAJID KHAN(Labour)07989 [email protected]

PAUL SHOTTON (Labour)07769 697771paul.shotton@ stoke.gov.uk

Eaton Park

RITA DALE(City Independents)(01782) [email protected]

ALASTAIR WATSON(Labour)07736 [email protected]

SADAQATMAQSOOM(Conservative)07595 [email protected]

SHAUN PENDER(Labour)(01782) [email protected]

KATH BANKS(Labour)(01782) 39975907790 [email protected]

Hanley Park and Shelton

AMJID WAZIR(Labour)07747 [email protected]

ABI BROWN(Conservative)07793 [email protected]

DEBBIE WHEELDON(Labour)(01782) 59504307870 [email protected]

CRAIG BEARDMORE(Conservative)07941 [email protected]

RUTH ROSENAU(Labour)07870 [email protected]:@CllrRuthRosenau

Little Chell and Stanfield

DAVID CONWAY (City Independents) (01782) [email protected]

JOANNE POWELL-BECKETT(City Independents)07816 [email protected]

JACKIE BARNES(City Independents)(01782) 845619 /07813 539410 jackie.barnes@stoke. gov.uk

RANDOLPH CONTEH (City Independents) (01782) 256869 07920 [email protected]

OLWEN HAMER(Labour)07717 [email protected]

Moorcroft

MOHAMMED PERVEZ (Labour)07919 [email protected]: @pervezstoke

ROSS IRVING(Conservative)(01782) 33598207842 [email protected]

Tunstall

LEE WANGER(City Independents) (01782) 856712 07971 [email protected]

Goldenhill and Sandyford

MARTIN GARNER(Labour)(01782) [email protected]

Information on city councillors was correct at the time of going to press.

For more information on your Councillors go to stoke.gov.uk/councillorsCouncillors can also be contacted through the Councillor and Civic Support Team who cantake messages and forward them on. They can be contacted on (01782) 231922 or 231924.

Cabinet meetings take place at the Civic Centre at1pm on the following dates: 15 December,19 January, 9 February, 23 February and 29 March.

The next full City Council meetings will be on10 December, 28 January, 25 February and17 March (times to be confirmed).

FORTHCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THE CIVIC CENTRE, STOKE:

YourCouncillors

Broadway and Longton EastBradeley and Chell Heath Burslem Park Dresden and Florence

Etruria and Hanley Fenton East Fenton West and Mount Pleasant Ford Green and Smallthorne

Great Chell and Packmoor Hanford and Trentham

Hartshill and Basford Hollybush and Longton West Joiner’s Square Lightwood North and Normacot

Meir Hay Meir North Meir Park Meir South

Penkhull and Stoke Sandford Hill Sneyd Green Springfields and Trent Vale

Weston Coyney


ROWING machines are to beinstalled at 10 Stoke-on-Trentschools as part of a scheme toencourage health and wellbeing,tackle obesity and improveacademic achievement.

Council Sports and LeisureServices and Public Healthteams are discussing the benefitsof a scheme with national sportscoach Neil Gilson to expand therecord breaking indoor rowingsessions he already runselsewhere.

Eight primary and twosecondary schools in the

Potteries have expressed aninterest and could benefit from10 machines each.

Pupils from Sutherland, SneydGreen, Stoke Minster, Hillside,Harpfields, Christchurch, StMary’s and Forest Park primaryschools as well as ThistleyHough and St Margaret Ward

could be rowing early in the NewYear.

Neil, a former Head of PE atHolden Lane High School, runsrowing sessions for children atNew Ford Primary inSmallthorne, Forsbrook Primary,Endon Hall Primary and theWallace Sport and Education

Centre in Abbey Hulton. He said:“The essence is to start highlevel physical activity in primaryschools where it has been provedindoor rowing does have animpact on obesity and academicachievement.

“Since we started at EndonHall and New Ford their SATS

results have improved. AtForsbrook, obesity levels are lessthan two per cent and theirSATS results are up 20 per cent.The sessions also help withconfidence and self esteem.

“We eventually hope to role the scheme out across allStoke-on-Trent schools.”

INSPIRATIONAL weight watchersat a Dimensions Leisure Centrefitness group have lost astaggering 20 stones betweenthem this year.

One of them, 57-year-old RoseCope from Chell, has shed morethan five stones on her own afterfirst coming to the gym at theBurslem centre and then takingpart in the dedicated weightmanagement sessions.

She and up to 12 others spendan hour and a half each week withcity council Lifestyle InstructorsJon Scragg and Angela Pepper –learning about diet and nutritionfirst before taking part in a funcircuit training session designedfor all fitness levels.

Now firm friends outside thegroup, they also join forces forextra work in the gym, goswimming and enjoy aquaaerobics.

Rose, whose husband Bernardhas lost a stone with the group,said: “Before I joined the gym Iweighed 21 and a half stone. Icouldn’t walk and ended uphaving a gastric bypass.

“I signed up for the gym andmet Jon who suggested the weightmanagement group and it’s beenthe best thing I ever did. I’ve gonefrom a size 32 to 24 and now eathealthily. I can even walk the dogand have just started work againwith Age UK. I’ve got my life backso I’d encourage anyone to give ita go.”

The council’s Lifestyle Servicereferral programme operates atDimensions as well as ShapesHealth and Leisure Club,Northwood Stadium and theWallace Sport and EducationCentre. For more details, call01782 234957.

ROWINGTOSUCCESSTen exercisemachinesinstalled incity schoolscould boostacademicachievement

National Sports Coach Neil Gilson with members of the Staffordshire Athletics and Rowing Academy, on the rowing machinesleft to right, Charlotte Reid, Macy Bentley and Eden Schiller, and standing left to right, Emma Ashley, Laila Melady, MadelineEaton-Lymer and Isabel Parry pictured during a training session at the Wallace Sport and Education Centre in Abbey Hulton.

Lifestyle initiative helps inspirational weight watchers shed 20 stoneWeight watcher Rose Cope, who has lost more

than five stones, is pictured with Lifestyle InstructorJohn Scragg at Dimensions Leisure Centre.

city news winter 2015 - stoke-on-trentwebapps.stoke.gov.uk/uploadedfiles/city news winter...

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