the angel – issue 9, autumn 2008

ANGELthe

AN UPDATE ON BURSLEM REGENERATION PROGRESS

ISSUE 9 Autumn 2008

New homesshape future

Pages 8-9Hundreds move in as Mother Town moves on

The Angel p1 25/9/08 16:54

PEOPLE who ask whetheranything is happening inBurslem prefer to ignore thenew housing and theon-going work in publicareas familiar to the town’spedestrians.

The impact of the creditcrunch does make the worlda bleaker place with new,but empty, houses lookingfor owners. The importantpoint is that behind thescenes a great deal ishappening.

The jigsaw of land leadingto the extension of theBurslem bypass is wellunderway; the Mother TownMasterplan has beenupdated and approved; andschemes for the WedgwoodInstitute and the towncentre including the indoormarket are being puttogether.

Despite the credit crunch,new work is underway andthe new board of theBurslem RegenerationCompany has started toshoulder its responsibilities.

It can be a long anddifficult process to apply forgrants for public projects toimprove the environment forlocal residents, but we shallsucceed. Nothing everhappens unless you make ithappen. The new houseswill sell and further houseswill be built. Burslem isalive – whatever the cynicsmay say.

Moorcroft is about tounveil record profits andtourism continues to thrive.Burslem is a great place tolive and to work and I amcertain that together weshall reach our goals.

Plenty ishappeningto ensureprogress

By HughEdwardsChairman ofThe BurslemRegenerationCompany

2 T H E A N G E L

APLAN to extend the Burslem bypass from

Nile Street to Moorland Road will be drawn

up by the end of the year.

City council highways engineers are currently

looking at all the options to complete the bypass

which starts in Newcastle Street.

The new road would take hundreds of vehicles a

day out of Burslem town centre, reducing pressure

on busy road junctions and enabling further

environmental improvements to be carried out.

Group Manager (Highways Development) Steve

Davenport said there was a window of opportunity

to deliver the scheme and a number of options

were being assessed. He said it was most likely

the new road would run from Nile Street up

Hobson Street, around the periphery of the former

Royal Doulton site and across to Moorland Road.

He added: “We have talked to developers St

Modwen who own the former Doulton site and will

be discussing the issue with other land owners

and will be looking to make a proposal to city

councillors by the end of the year.

“Completing the bypass would be a great help

to Burslem town centre, providing traffic with an

alernative means of travelling from Moorland Road

to Newcastle Street.

“It would allow us to continue to improve the

pedestrian environment in the town centre.”

Burslem North Councillor Joy Garner, the city

council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said

the completion of the bypass would be a “much-

needed improvement for the town.”

She said: “It will reduce traffic congestion,

cleaning up the air in the town centre and allow

visitors to enjoy Burslem. There are lots of new

shops in Burslem town centre and taking the

traffic out will make it a better experience for

everyone using them.”

Plans drawn up tofinish bypass

WORK has started on

demolishing the former Royal

Doulton factory site at Nile

Street, Burslem, to make way for

an exciting development that

will bring new homes and jobs

to the heart of the Mother Town.

Developers St Modwen

Properties have been granted

planning approval by the city

council for the project that will

incorporate around 140 new

homes and more than 50

business units on the prime

11-acre site. While most of the

factory will be demolished, St

Modwen will restore the original

main Royal Doulton building in

Nile Street to mark Burslem’s

proud heritage as the centre of

North Staffordshire’s world

renowned ceramics industry.

St Modwen Regional Director

Mike Herbert said: “The current

climate in the housing market

and wider economy means we

are unable to say when building

will commence. However, St

Modwen is firmly committed to

the project and its contribution

to the regeneration of Burslem.

We will start to move forward as

soon as there is a change in the

economic climate.

“Meanwhile, we are currently

demolishing the factory and

securing the site so it will be

both safe and ready for when

building work commences.”

Factory site clearance work underway

JoyGarner, Burslem

North City Councillorand a Director of the

Regeneration Company,pictured at Hobson Street

– a likely route for thefinal stretch of the

town’s bypass.

The Angel p2 25/9/08 16:21 Page 1

T H E A N G E L 3

MORE than £40m of

Government funding

has been approved to

rebuild Stoke on Trent College’s

Burslem Campus as one of the

UK’s most modern higher

education facilities.

The Government’s Learning

and Skills Council gave the

green light to the scheme, which

will also see extensive new

buildings at the Cauldon

Campus in Shelton.

The redevelopment of

Burslem campus has already

started with the opening of the

John Seddon Building

Technology Centre. Now the

scene is set for the site to be

cleared, and rebuilt in 21st

century style with an open

pedestrian space linking a series

of individual buildings within an

eco-friendly traffic-free

environment.

A striking signature building

fronting onto Moorland Road is

being planned to provide one of

Stoke-on-Trent’s most modern

pieces of architecture.

Architect Aidan Ridyard

explained: “It is our ambition to

make this a landmark building of

which the whole community can

be proud. The entire

development will form relatively

low-rise buildings. The narrow

building depths maximise

daylight and ventilation

efficiencies.”

A detailed planning

application for the works will be

submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City

Council in early 2009, with work

expected to start in early 2010

for completion in 2013.

College Principal Graham

Moore said: “The LSC’s decision

secures the funding we require

to move ahead with this exciting

opportunity for Stoke-on-Trent.

“The campus developments

offer both the learning and

wider communities once in a

lifetime investment to improve

life opportunities for all. The

renewal will be sympathetic to

the locations in which they are

sited, while adding something

new and inspiring to the local

landscapes.

“Sustainable technologies and

construction practices will

feature throughout the new

campuses, minimising our

carbon footprint and delivering

intelligent buildings that

contribute positively to the

college’s ongoing operating

efficiencies.”

Patrick Wenger, Chair of the

college’s Board of Governors,

said: “New world class facilities

will support key areas of the

local and regional economy by

delivering high quality skills

training in health and social

care, construction and business

and professional services. This

reinforces a picture of a college

fighting fit to provide our

community with the skills

needed to compete in the 21st

century.”

£40m college rebuild isworld-class

THE £268,000 project totransform Swan Square intoa Continental-style piazzais due to be completed inOctober. Improvements tothe important gateway tothe Mother Town include agravel terrace andsandstone features,creating a 21st centurypublic space.

The original iron railingsthat used to surround thedemolished subterraneantoilet will be re-used andre-painted to form a barrierbetween the seating areaand traffic makingdeliveries to nearbybusiness premises. Thepublic will have access tothe new-look Swan Squarewhen work has finished,and there will an officialopening at a later date.

Continentalpiazza workprogressing

An artist’simpression showing

how the new Burslemcampus will look –

with Moorland Roadat the top right.

The Angel p3 25/9/08 16:25 Page 1

4 T H E A N G E L

EMPLOYMENT and trainingopportunities have beensignificantly boosted with

the opening of a newcommunity-based jobs,enterprise and training centre(JET) in Burslem.

The JET centre – hosted inBurslem by GroundworkStoke-on-Trent andStaffordshire, on behalf ofStoke-on-Trent City Council – is abase for local people to accessservices and support to assistthem on their journey back intoemployment.

People seeking work andtraining can take advantage ofthe expert support and serviceson offer, including access totraining courses such as literacyand numeracy, CV writing andinterview techniques and workexperience opportunities.

The scheme is also able to tapinto the expertise of awide range of JET partnerorganisations, including the CityCouncil, JobCentre Plus, theLearning and Skills Council,Stoke on Trent College,Connexions, the UniversityHospital of North Staffordshire,North Staffordshire YMCA andTouchstone Housing Association.

There is also JET Business,based in Hanley, an EmployerHub, working with localemployers to source localvacancies for JET clients.

The JET centre, one of three nowup and running in Stoke-on-Trent,is based at Groundwork’s Albany

House headquarterson Moorland Road. However, theservices they provide will beoffered from local communityfacilities bringing them even closerto the people they are aimed at.

There will be a JET outreach

centre in Burslem Town centre as

well as from Touchstone

Housing’s offices in Middleport,

and Port Vale Children’s Centre.

Julia Barraclough, Education

and Training Manager for

Groundwork Stoke-on-Trent and

Staffordshire, said: “JET is

unique because it is a

community-faced project.

“People do not have to come

to Groundwork’s office to access

these services – they will be

available from community hubs

throughout the Burslem area

literally providing the service in

their neighbourhood.

“Clients who are referred to

JET are given a broad range of

training with the aim of helping

them find work. “Firstly we work with them to

gauge what their aspirations are,before referring them to differentorganisations such as the YMCAfor confidence building andone-to-one support.

“Then they have the

opportunity to access trainingcourses, brush up on literacyand numeracy if required andtake part in work experienceplacements.

“We are also working closelywith GP surgeries and engaging

other agencies to provide as wella rounded level of support forclients as possible.”

For more information on theBurslem JET call 829911.

the JET set

Julia Barraclough,Education and

Training Managerfor Groundwork.

Wise job seekers join

Bringingservice to the

people – pictured at theMiddleport Community Hub,

left to right, Senior JET AdviserKay Fryer, JET Adviser Steve

Dunn, JET client VanessaBriggs and Midland Heart

Regeneration ManagerJohn Webbe.

The Angel p4 25/9/08 16:26 Page 1

T H E A N G E L 5

THE vision of a dramatically

improved town centre for

Burslem is soon to be

unveiled. Exciting new proposals

in a masterplan aimed at

revamping the heart of the

Mother Town and breathing new

cultural and economic life into

the area will be revealed in a

series of consultation events in

November by the board of the

re-constituted Burslem

Regeneration Company.

The masterplan takes in

suggestions made by previous

strategies and also introduces

fresh recommendations to attract

new businesses and investment,

create new jobs, work towards

developing a sustainable

community, redevelop Brownfield

land and maximise the cultural

and natural assets of the town

centre.

Original proposals were

reviewed by architectural town

planners HypoStyle who were

commissioned by Burslem

Regeneration Company to look at

all aspects of regenerating the

town centre.

It is hoped that work will start

on turning the dream into a

reality as early as next year – and

it’s estimated that the ambitious

programme will be completed by

2016.

The business and delivery plan

looks at four key areas:

● Accessibility and movement –

improving traffic

flow through the town and

pedestrian access.

● Attracting new businesses and

boosting tourism.

● Encouraging investment in

economic growth.

● Developing public services –

such as provision of healthcare

facilities, support for unemployed

people and promoting sporting

and cultural activities like the

concept of a Sports Village.

The business and delivery plan

also includes proposals for

improving the town centre’s

landmark buildings such as

Ceramica, the indoor market,

Wedgwood Institute and Queen’s

Theatre.

Julian Read, Burslem

Regeneration Manager, said:

“The business and delivery plan

will build on the previous

masterplanning work. Once it has

been approved by regeneration

partners we will look to

implement the proposal, making

Burslem town centre the vibrant,

attractive and prosperous place

that it should be.”

BURSLEM will turn backthe clock for this year’sChristmas Arts andCrafts Fair which willhave a Victorian theme.

Queen Street will betransformed into afestive Dickensian sceneon Saturday, December6 with stallholders inperiod costume, carolsinging, a hog roast andshop windowsdecorated in the style ofthe era.

Visitors will beinvited to try their handat one of the arts andcrafts workshops, whilethere will be plenty offree entertainment forchildren of all ages,such as live music,Victorian street gamesand storytellers withtales of Christmasespast.

Other attractions willinclude guided tours bylocal historians – and aseasonal ghost hunt atThe Leopard, NorthStaffordshire’s mosthaunted public house.

Julie Gould, JointVice-Chair of theBurslem Arts FestivalGroup, said: “This willbe the biggest BurslemChristmas Arts andCrafts Fair so far, withsomething for all thefamily.

“The style of thearchitecture in Burslemtown centre is an idealsetting in which tocreate a Victoriantheme.”

The fair runs from11am until 4pm. Theorganisers are lookingfor volunteers to helpon the big day. If youwould like to helpplease let Julie know byphoning 07971 272059or email her [email protected]

Things arelooking

up...

MEMBERS of the new board of theBurslem Regeneration Company are,left to right back row, Jon Cotgreave,

Edmund Yorke, Amanda Bromley, middlerow, Joy Garner, Joan Walley, Pamela

Malleleiu, David Rogers, front row, Rev AshleyCooper and Mark Rizk. The Board Chairman Hugh

Edwards was unable to attend the photo-call.

All set to turn dreaminto reality

Regeneration ManagerJulian Read will unveildetails of the newmasterplan for Burslem

Victoriantheme forChristmasfestivities

The Angel p5 25/9/08 16:27 Page 1

6 T H E A N G E L T H E A N G E L 7

THE Building Design

Partnership (BDP) has been

set up to prepare a detailed

masterplan for the next phase of

improvement work in Middleport.

Housing regeneration body

RENEW has appointed the expert

panel to carry out a six-month

consultation and feasibility study

to pave the way for the latest

wave of improvements.

The next phase of work will be

centred on the Newport Lane,

Slater Street and Maddock Street

area and will be primarily

residential. The site of the former

Wood and Sons Stanley Pottery in

Newport Lane will also be

redeveloped.

As well as repair and

renovation of existing properties,

other types of projects will

include creating improved on and

off street parking, traffic calming

measures and the development

of open spaces to boost the

sense of community.

RENEW is also working with

Staffordshire Police to curb

anti-social behaviour by targeting

empty or derelict properties, and

are close to identifying a site for a

new police post to house

neighbourhood officers.RENEW Development Manager

Harmesh Jassal said: “This is a

significant step forward because

Building Design partnership will

be producing

a clear and

detailed

vision

for the future of Middleport. This

will be a precursor to actual

planning applications for the

work to be carried out.

“BDP will be taking on board all

the consultations that have taken

place up until now and be looking

at everything from housing to

transport and transforming public

spaces.

“Public involvement is

essential and there will be

plenty of chances to view the

plans the partnership come

up with and for people to

have their say and shape

these designs.

“Repairs and

renovations will be

carried out where

possible and

appropriate, and the

overall scheme is about

enhancing the area and bringing

the Middleport community closer

together.”

RENEW has already spent more

than £400,000 in the Middleport

area and the investment is

making a tangible difference.

Communities in Ellgreave

Street and Lyndhurst Street have

already benefited from the first

phase of improvements which

have included housing

improvements as well as traffic

calming measures.

Mr Jassal added: “Residents

should take a look at the work

carried out in places like

Ellgreave Street as this is

indicative of the kind of

improvements we want to

continue to build on through the

next phase of work where

appropriate.”

SCORES of houses inMiddleport have alreadybenefited from improvementscarried out by RENEW.Throughout the spring andsummer, a £1.1 million projecthas transformed olderproperties in the area.

More than 70 homes inNewport Street, EllgreaveStreet, Sant Street, St Paul’sStreet, Church Square andGlobe Street have benefitedfrom a raft of improvements.

These have includedrepairing and replacing frontwindows, doors, roofs andguttering, boundary walls andgates, and the re-pointing andrepainting of masonry.

The work has been carriedout by RENEW NorthStaffordshire’s lead partners –Midland Heart housingassociation and JS Seddoncontractors – and has gonedown very well with residents.

Barry Thompson, of JSSeddon, said: “It is great thatthe residents are delightedwith the improvements to theirhomes and it’s great to be ableto deliver a project that meetsthe needs of the community.”

A SCHEME to convert a derelict19th Century flour mill atMiddleport into luxuryapartments has been givenplanning approval.

Burslem-based developersChris Shaw Properties want torenovate the canalside Port ValeMill, which has been dilapidatedfor over two decades, to create 14two-bedroom and three-bedroomflats. Plans also include nine newcourtyard-style two-bedroomhouses and two new apartmentsoff Milvale Street,

Architect Pat Redmond said therenovation design was insympathy with the historic flourmill, built in 1844, and itslocation in the Trent and MerseyCanal conservation area.

“We have worked closely withcity council conservation officersin drawing up the design for thedevelopment which is aimed atproviding aspirational homes foryoung single people andfamilies,” said Mr Redmond ofLeek-based CTD Architects. “Weare expecting to startconstruction work next year.”

RENEW Development ManagerHarmesh Jassal said: “The flourmill plan is a quality scheme andshows private sector confidencein the regeneration ofMiddleport.”

Meanwhile, Chris ShawProperties have made anotherplanning application to build 16flats and three houses on the siteof a flint grinding works,

adjacent to the flour mill. Theproposal would includeconversion of the canalsideworks for the houses and twoflats.

RENEW Development Manager Harmesh Jassal, right, and Pochin Homes Managing Director JohnCoupland pictured at the former site of the Wood and Sons Stanley Pottery where it is planned to buildaffordable, quality homes.

Derelict canalside flourmill set to be convertedinto luxury homes

WORK on a new £2million GPpractice to serve Middleport isexpected to start next year.Stoke-on-Trent PCT has made aplanning application to buildthe centre on land in DuncalfStreet and is carrying out afeasibility study on analternative location on the siteof a former primary school inMoreton Street.

Four GPs and three practicenurses will be based in thecomplex to provide care for6,000 patients.

A spokesman for the PCTsaid: “If the Moreton Streetsite is feasible we will submita planning application andthen local people will be ableto give their views on theirpreferred site of the two.”

Scores ofpropertiesimproved

Clear vision for the future includes continued investment and construction projects to improve Middleport for community

New £2mGP practice

An artist’s impression showing howthe historic flour mill will look afterthe conversion to apartments.

Developer ChrisShaw pictured at the

canalside by thederelict flour mill.

Welcometo the MiddleportCommunity Hub –Jackie Grant, top,

Midland HeartRegeneration ProjectOfficer, and Heather

Kuduk, RENEWProgramme

Officer.

Expert design team to plan

the next phase

The Angel p6-7 25/9/08 17:03 Page 1

8 T H E A N G E L

A PRIME town centre site at the heart ofBurslem’s shopping area is beingdeveloped to provide high qualitynew-build housing with 21st centuryfacilities to suit both youngprofessionals and retired people.

The Furlong Passage development offour two-bedroom town houses withaccommodation over three storeys and25 one, two and three-bedroomapartments will feature secureunderground car parking and lifts aswell as a secure communal garden andoutside leisure area.

Situated conveniently between StJohns Square and Woodgate Street, the

site is being developed byLongton-based Talbot Developments.The first properties will be availablenext spring and the project is scheduledfor completion by the summer.

Rob Talbot, of Talbot Developments,said: “The development is designed toappeal to first time buyers and youngprofessionals as well as older peoplewho wish to down-size and mayappreciate the facility of a lift. Weinvested in this project because theprogramme of regeneration in Burslemis re-invigorating the centre of theMother Town and making it a desirableplace to live.”

T H E A N G E L 9

HUNDREDS of new housesin Burslem are becominghome to a growing number

of families, couples and singles,breathing life into the MotherTown.

Developments around the towncentre were always planned toattract a mix of people fromoutside the area and those whomay have lived locally all theirlives.

Now the policy is bearing fruit,with a growing population whowill, in turn, boost the town’sshops, pubs and restaurants.

Residents who have movedinto their homes tell of adeveloping sense of community...traditional Potteries warmth inthe Mother Town’s newestneighbourhoods.

And many are looking forwardto a time when a revitalisedBurslem might compete with thetrendy areas of cities likeManchester.

Lisa Watson, 28, movedinto her two-bed house atSadlers Park with husbandDuncan, 29, and childrenDeclan, six and Charlotte, one,after moving into the area fromWorcester.

Lisa said: “We had to findsomewhere quickly because ofDuncan’s teaching job and reallydropped on here – it’s great forfamilies. We love the fact that it’sso easy to get everywhere fromhere.

“There is so much on thedoorstep, like the countryside,motorway and Stoke on TrentCollege for my studies.”

Not many new housingdevelopments can boast theviews, nearby Victorian towncentre and great communicationsoffered by a home in Burslemtown centre.

Gareth Fallows, who has afour-bedroomed house at SadlersPark, said: “I chose Burslembecause I draw comparisons withother areas of the country whichhave already made it. Houseprices remain below the nationalaverage yet are indicating anupward trend.

“Burslem’s cultural heritage as

the catalyst for the world’s finestpottery also lends itself to futuredevelopment.

“In time Burslem will be toStoke-on-Trent what Didsbury isto Manchester.”

As well as attracting investorsand commuters, Burslem’s newdevelopments have given localfamilies the chance to move upthe housing ladder in terms ofquality.

Dave Dawson, 39, and his wifeTina, 40, have moved into theirfirst home together... a brandnew three bedroomed propertythey describe as their “dreamhome”.

Tina said: “We wanted our firsthome to be just right and fell inlove with our beautiful threebedroomed semi. We wanted tobuy it there and then.”

Design of the newdevelopments has been a majorconsideration, with the BurslemRegeneration Company workingwith developers to make sure

new housing complimentedthe town’s rich architecture.

And Sarah Broomhall, 24,who has also moved ontoSadlers Park, said the styleand affordability of theapartments had given her theconfidence to buy in Burslem.

She said: “With the rightdevelopment and with the rightdeal now is actually a great timeto buy.

“It proves you don’t need tolive in the city to have acosmopolitan lifestyle.”

l Meanwhile, more than halfthe homes built on the site of aformer pottery worksat HadderidgeGardens havebeen sold. Thirtyof the 48 homeshave beensnapped up,mainly by buyersfrom outsidethe area.

COMPLETION of thehousing scheme which willchange the face of Burslemtown centre is movingcloser as more and moreresidents are makinghomes in the latest phaseof the development.

Phase three of theSadlers Park complex iscurrently being marketedand attracting healthyinterest. As The Angel wentto press, six of the latestbatch of 46 propertiesreleased for sale had beensnapped up.

So far, a lively mix offamilies, couples and singlepeople have moved into thedevelopment, whichcombines townhouses andapartments in attractivelandscaping with neatcommunal gardens andscupltures. When it iseventually completed,Sadlers Park will see 421homes on the sites of theformer Wade and Sadlerspottery factories.

Once sales of phasethree are completedeveloper CountrysideProperties will build afurther 96 apartmentsbefore completing the site,which cuts a swathe aroundthe town centre, fromNewcastle Street to MarketSquare.

The final piece of thejigsaw will see two shopsfronting onto the squareopposite Ceramica, andforming a gateway to theSadlers Park development.

Countryside PropertiesRegional Sales DirectorMartin Leggett said: “Wehave now started the fourthand final phase of buildingand can see the positiveimpact this development ishaving on this charming,historic town. It has beenan exciting project for allinvolved but there’s a lotstill to come.”

Development has secure underground car parking

SadlersPark ishavingpositiveimpact

“In time Burslem will be to Stoke-on-Trent what

Didsbury is to Manchester.”Gareth Fallows

SarahBroomhall –

“now is agreat time

to buy.”

Daveand Tina

Dawson foundtheir “dream

home” at Sadlers

Park.

Homes and people breathe

new life in townHomes and people breathe







new life in townDuncanand Lisa

Watson and theirchildren Declan andCharlotte. Lisa said

“it’s great forfamilies”.

Homes and people breathe

new life in town

AGRANT scheme has injected fresh confidence

into Burslem by improving the appearance of

historic buildings in the town. The Townscape

Heritage Initiative has been pumping hundreds of

thousands of pounds into restoring and enhancing

the exteriors of shops, offices and restaurants.

And now major chain stores are being approached

about the possibility of moving into the old Co-op

building in Swan Square – where the owner has

applied for a 90 per cent THI grant to give a facelift

to the art deco facade.

Project Manager, Suleman Nakhooda, said:

“The impact the scheme is having on the

town centre is now visually taking

shape and this is prompting investors to

have fresh faith in the town. There are

now a number of approaches being made

to nationwide retailers who are

interested in having their name

associated with this fast-

developing town centre.”

Roberta’s Bridal have expanded

by moving to a new premises in

Market Place.

The old shop has been filled

by new women’s outfitters

Simply Stunning and is undergoing over £50,000 of

THI-funded works to improve its exterior. There

could also be a second application for 90 per cent

funding to restore further historic detail.

Co-owner Sheila Hayward said: “Burslem is on the

top of the list for regeneration. I remember the town

in its hey-day, there is going to be money spent on it

again and we wanted to be here to give the ladies of

Burslem the quality they are going to want.”

The scheme has also invested into Nile Street –

one of Burslem’s key gateways – where Hassall

Shoe Repair Service is the first business to be

improved, receiving a £13,000 grant for work to

windows, guttering and the frontage.

The Hairatage hairdressing salon and The

Potteries Insurance Society – both in Queen Street –

are looking to benefit from improved shop windows,

repairs and shop fronts.

And new businesses to the town like the Beer

Emporium and women’s outfitters What Women

Want have been carrying-out attractive

improvements themselves – with a THI grant to

restore historic signage.

There are still grants available that shops can

apply for. To check if your property is within the THI

Boundary log onto www.stoke.gov.uk/burslemthi2.

BIG-HEARTED children ata Burslem Primary havechalked-up more than£1,750 for charity andorganisations in theMother Town.

Pupils at JohnBaskeyfield V.C. Church ofEngland Primary Schoolin Westport Road havetaken-on four challengesto raise funds.

They paid a pound todress their teddy bearsup like Pudsy bear,covered their furry friendsin bandages and worewellies for the day.

The £750 generatedwas then donated to childpatients at the UniversityHospital of NorthStaffordshire, Children inNeed and the DonnaLouise Trust.

Finally, a penaltyshoot-out involving all430 pupils was organisedin conjunction with PortVale. The youngsters triedto beat club mascotBoomer who kept goal –and raised more than£1,000 which was splitbetween school funds andcommunity initiatives atVale Park.

ReprographicsAssistant at the school,Michelle Lousia, whopreviously fundraised atthe Leopard Hotel, helpedorganise the events.

She said: “Credit isreally due to all thepupils who really gotinvolved and raised agreat deal of money, notonly for the localarea, but forimportant charitiesas well. Theyreally got intospirit of thingsand thanks is alsodue to theirparents.”

Primarypupilsraisefunds

Grant scheme boosts

confidence

Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley is pictured outside new Burslem women’s outfitters What WomenWant with its co-owner Karen Barnett. The shop has benefitted from a THI grant towards its signage.

10 T H E A N G E L

The Angel p10 25/9/08 16:47 Page 1

T H E A N G E L 11

Port Vale Chairman Bill Bratt joins a

community walk onthe Greenway at

Burslem. Pictured farleft is the Project

DevelopmentManager PatWhitehouse.

Community walks...

Accentuating the

NEW businesses are set

to move into the latest

live-work units at the

heart of Burslem’s Creative

Quarter.

Two shops and three flats

have been let in the former

Cliffe’s Fashion building,

bringing a music development

business, designer, film

producer, artist and illustrator

to work in the Mother Town.

Housing and regeneration

agency Midland Heart has

driven forward the programme

to transform Queen Street

into a focal point for creative

young people looking to start

out in business.

In total, 17 new units have

been created, funded by the

Housing Corporation, North

Staffordshire Regeneration

Zone, Advantage West

Midlands and the Townscape

Heritage Initiative (THI).

Midland Heart Regeneration

Manager John Webbe said:

“Interest in the new units has

been high. It’s exciting to

attract others to what is fast

becoming a centre for new

creative businesses in North

Staffordshire.

“The new occupiers of the

live-work units are creative

businesses new to Burslem.

“The final three units in

Queen Street are also

attracting a great deal of

interest and we are hoping to

be able to make an

announcement on those in

the near future.”

Two of the tenants of the latest phase ofthe Queen Street live-work units areceramic artist Alex Shimwell, and KarenSayle, a photographer and animator. Theyare pictured at the rear of the new units.

creativecreativecreativecreativecreativecreativecreativecreativecreative

FIVE new community walks around theBurslem area have been put together tohelp people improve their fitness bybecoming more active.

The Closer to Home series of circularwalks was launched in Burslem beforebeing rolled out across the Potteries.Funded by the city’s Primary Care Trust, thefive walks in the Mother Town area areeasy to follow and mainly use the parksand greenways to encourage use of openspace.

Project Development Manager PatWhitehouse said the walks had been drawnup to allow people to step outside theirfront door and be close to one of the routes.

She said: “The walks are a great way toenjoy some fresh air, take some exerciseand even find out a little bit about Stoke-on-Trent.”

The five walks around the Burslem areaare: Central Forest Park to Port Vale; MillHill and Stanfields; Ford Green Hall andChatterley Whitfield; Birches Head and

Northwood and Westport Lake and NatureReserves. Leaflets produced as guides tothe walks give information about wildlife,the environment and the area’s history.

Information is also available at libraries,museums, tourist information centres, thecivic centre, GP surgeries and Dimensionsleisure centre. For more information aboutthe walks, or on becoming a walk leader,please telephone Pat Whitehouse on 01782831900. Pat is based at the Vale ParkEnterprise Centre.

...a big step in the right direction

The Angel p11 25/9/08 16:37 Page 1

AS the Olympic flag flies proudly

over Burslem, a call is being

made to boost expenditure on

sporting facilities in the town. MP Joan

Walley is campaigning for everyone in

the area involved in health promotion

and sport to work together as a virtual

“Sports Village” to boost spending on

keep-fit amenities.

She has studied similar initiatives in

others areas of the UK, such as Telford

where the local college and football club

have teamed up to upgrade their respective

sporting facilities.

Joan’s call comes as Dimensions leisure

centre has been chosen as one of the few

sites in Britain to mark the hand-over from

Beijing by flying the Olympic flag until the

2012 Games are held in London.

She said: “We should use the Olympic

spirit in order to make it easier for people

to access sporting and keep-fit activities

close to home at grass roots level.”

Joan, who is Vice-Chair of the Burslem

Regeneration Company Board, is working closely

with Councillor Debra Gratton, the City Council

portfolio holder for Sports and Leisure in order

to incorporate the concept of the “Sports

Village” in planning the future

of the city’s sports facilities.

She added: “The idea would

be for everyone from the NHS

Primary Care Trust and the City

Council to Dimensions, Port

Vale Football Club, Burslem

Gymnastics Club and anyone

else concerned with sport or

health promotion in the area to

look at what they offer at the

moment and come together so

they can be more effective in

sourcing funding to achieve

improvements.”

Meanwhile, a project called

Stadium Legends is bringing

together the generations through

Haywood High School media

pupils, Age Concern and

residents from Bradeley Village to

make a presentation on the role

that Port Vale FC has played in

the community in the past, while

also looking at the future of the

club and how it could support the

concept of a Sports Village.

The Angel is produced on behalf of Burslem Regeneration Company by Smith Davis Press

Flying the flagFlying the flagFlying the flagFlying the flagFlying the flagFlying the flagFlying the flagFlying the flagFlying the flagCall for creationof ‘virtual’ SportsVillage to reflectOlympic spirit

Lord Mayor Derek Capey, Stoke-on-Trent North

MP Joan Walley, right, and City Councillor Debra

Gratton, portfolio holder for Sports and Leisure,

hold aloft medals which commemorated the

raising of the Olympic flag at Dimensions.

Jenna Dimiceli, aged 13,

proudly waves the Olympic flag

prior to a special ceremony at

Dimensions when Stoke-on-Trent Lord

Mayor Roy Capey raised the Olympic

standard in Burslem for the first time.

The Angel p12 25/9/08 17:08 Page 1

the angel – issue 9, autumn 2008

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