Pits 'n' Pots

To facilitate the safe hosting of the Olympic Torch Relay and Evening Celebration on 30 May a number of roads forming and around the route in to Hanley Park in Shelton are to be closed.

The enforcement are for 3 days beginning on Monday 28 May and will remain in place until after the Olympic Torch Relay event in Stoke-on-Trent has been completed.

On the morning of Thursday 31 May a number of roads in and around Hanley and along the Olympic Torch Route towards Burslem and out of the city will be closed.

Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport, said

The arrival of the Olympic Flame in Stoke-on-Trent is a massive boast for the city but it will mean that a minimal number of roads will face some restrictions in the build-up to this international event. We have worked extremely hard to ensure that the closures will cause as few disruptions to daily life as possible, but I urge people to take note of the roads affected in their area and plan journeys accordingly.

The full list of road closures is

• Prohibit through traffic along The Parkway, between Cleveland Road and Harding Road, from Monday 28th May to Wednesday 30th May 2012.
• Prohibit the driving of any vehicle along The Parkway and Ridgeway Road in a northerly direction.
• Prohibit through traffic along the lengths of road specified in Schedule Two on Wednesday 30th May 2012 between 17:00 and 20:00.
• Schedule Two
• Road Section
• Stoke Road Full length
• Avenue Road From Stoke Road to College Road
• College Road From Avenue Road to Cleveland Road
• Cleveland Road Full length
• The Parkway Full length
• Prohibit through traffic along the lengths of road specified in Schedule Three on Thursday 31st May 2012 between 05:00 and 08:00.
• Schedule Three
• Road Section
• Bethesda Street From Albion Street to John Street
• Albion Street Full length
• Old Hall Street From Lichfield Street to Parliament Row
• Parliament Row Full length
• Upper Market Square Full length
• Town Road From Huntbach Street to Union Street
• Potteries Way From Town Road to Vale Place (Westbound direction)
• Vale Place Full length
• Waterloo Road Full length
• Swan Square Full length
• Market Place From Swan Square to Westport Road
• Newcastle Street Full length
• Station Street Full length
• Porthill Road Full length
• Prohibit through traffic along the lengths of road specified in Schedule Four on Wednesday 30th May 2012 between 13:00 and 16:00.
• Schedule Four
• Road Section
• College Road From Station Road to Cleveland Road
• Cleveland Road Full length
• Prohibit any vehicular traffic to wait, load or unload in the lengths of road specified in Schedule One, from Tuesday 29th May to Wednesday 30th May 2012, except for resident permit holders for zones H11, S1, S2 and S3; and buses.
• Schedule One
• Road Section
• Ridgway Road – Full length
• Avenue Road – From College Road to Boughey Road
• College Road – From Cleveland Road to Avenue Road
• Cleveland Road – Full length
• The Parkway – Full length
• Prohibit any vehicular traffic to wait, load or unload on Leek Road from its junction with Station Road for a distance of 150 metres in a northerly direction; and
• Prohibit any vehicular traffic to wait, load or unload in the lengths of road specified in Schedules Two, Three and Four, from Tuesday 29th May to Wednesday 30th May 2012, except for buses.

You can download PDF maps of the Olympic Torch Relay route in Stoke-on-Trent on the City Council website.

Due to the considerable lack of local talent and celebrity in the city, Stoke-on-Trent City Council have announced that Geraint Hardy, will be hosting the evening event for the Stoke-on-Trent Olympic Torch Relay.

The welsh born presenter will welcome guests and stars onto the Hanley Park stage from the world of sport, lead the crowd in the countdown to the Flame’s arrival as well as introduce a chart topping act.

Upon coming to Stoke-on-Trent, Geraint, said

It’s great to be a part of the Olympic journey and it’s an honour to be in Stoke for what is going to be a fantastic celebratory evening.

Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development, said

Geraint is a host of real calibre who is sure to make keep the crowd entertained. His blend of experiences with sport and music stars makes him the perfect host for Stoke-on-Trent’s moment to shine.

Geraint is a versatile presenter with years of live television experience including reporting for Sportsround and Match of the Day Kickabout on the CBBC channel where he interviewed sports stars including F1 driver Jenson Button, boxer David Haye, footballers Ryan Giggs and Clarence Seedorf and cyclist Chris Hoy. He has also presented for Sky Sports covering the UK School Games which was held in Cardiff 2009.

In case you were wondering, this is Geraint Hardy

Who do you think should be on stage in Hanley Park on 30 May?

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Stoke-on-Trent City Council have announced that Charlie Stewart, currently the Strategic Director of Resources at Brighton &  Hove City Council where he is a member of the Strategic Leadership Board has been appointed as Assistant Chief Executive to John van de Laarschot.

Councillor Martin Garner, Chair of the HR Committee explained,

Five excellent candidates were interviewed for the position of Assistant Chief Executive over a two-day period of assessments last week. The process was hard and the competition very close with candidates being interviewed by a young people’s panel, external stakeholders including fire service and health service representatives, and interviews with elected members. The HR Committee was unanimous in its decision to offer the job to Charlie with cross party support from both Labour and City Independent Councillors.

These are exciting times for the city council and I am certain in appointing Charlie that we have someone who is highly qualified and abundantly experienced to perform well in this post and help to deliver our Mandate for Change by ensuring we are a confident and effective council fit for purpose.

Charlie Stewart added,

I am delighted to be joining the council at such an exciting time in the city’s development. I look forward to working with local people to help achieve Stoke-on-Trent’s great potential.

Previously Charlie worked at West Sussex County Council in both frontline and support roles. He started his career in the Royal Air Force at RAF Stafford (he says “it feels like coming home”). He then worked for 3 global businesses; a global IT and software supplier, as a Director for company supplying medical equipment to the NHS and as a consultant working with business and government. Charlie also holds an MBA from Cranfield University and graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biology from King’s College London.

It is expected Charlie Stewart will take up the post in a few months’ time, a date is yet to be confirmed.

 

Posted from Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom.

The BBC Trust has announced today that they have scaled back the proposed cuts to BBC Local Radio to around £8m rather than the £15m initially proposed. The BBC had planned to cut the budget for BBC local radio by 14% as part of their Delivering Quality First initiative, but protests from the public and politicians made them review their proposals.

There are however stil plans to scale back local radio coverage this is expected to include a new shared programme for all of England that will be broadcast on weekday evenings from 1900 -2200. Stations will be able to opt out of the All England program to cover local sports.

The BBC Trust also announced

• Afternoon sharing will be limited to a very small number of stations, either where currently operational or where there are strong editorial reasons for doing so
• Sport and other community output will be more protected than originally proposed to ensure range and variety. There will be a number of editorial changes to how stations schedule minority output, with most of this output scheduled at weekends
• Cuts to on the ground journalists and reporters will be much lower with additional efficiency savings targeted at reducing layers of management within local stations.

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said

This is the end of a lengthy process for the BBC, designed to ensure we can meet a tough but fair licence settlement for the next five years. Delivering the changes we have approved today will be challenging, but they are necessary.

We’ve listened carefully to the views of those who care about the BBC, and taken our time to get this right, encouraging the executive to amend plans where we think they need further thought, as the changes to local radio proposals show.

Our focus now is to ensure that audiences notice as little change as possible to the services they know and love, and we will be monitoring audience reactions very carefully through our ongoing programme of reviews and reports.

What do you think of the new proposals for BBC local radio?

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Burslem, home of the Wedgwood Institute, Burslem School of Art and the historic Leopard Hotel has secured further support from the Heritage Lottery Fund which means it could be inline for a further investment of £1m to help renovate buildings is Burslem’s Historic Quadrant and breathe new life into some of the town’s finest heritage buildings through the fund’s Townscape Heritage Initiative.

This support, secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund, secured by Stoke-on-Trent City Council make Burslem only the second town in the country to have the opportunity of receiving three successive rounds of HLF cash. Together with match funding of £1.2m from the European Regional Development Fund and private investment, it will pump around £4m into the town.

Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transportation, said

HLF have told us that the £1m funding is in place, provided our final detailed proposals fully meet the programme criteria. They have also congratulated us on the quality of our application and work to date.

This is a massive boost for Burslem, and builds on tremendously positive work over the last five years to rejuvenate the Mother Town’s historic buildings and preserve the town’s heritage.

The first stage support from HLF includes a development grant of £15,200 for the council to develop a full application, and means that the council can continue to build strong partnerships in the town with the assurance that funding is secured.

Queen Street Burslem

If successful the new funding would concentrate on Burslem’s Historic Quadrant, to help address the fact that 21 per cent of properties in the town’s conservation area are currently vacant, and contain 14 semi-derelict buildings. The £1m funding should help attract new business into renovated properties, increase footfall in the town, and help stimulate development of brownfield land on the edge of the town centre including driving up demand for housing developments.

Reyahn King, Head of HLF West Midlands, said

HLF investment goes well beyond the bricks and mortar of a building. THI schemes can really help turn around local economies, not only by improving how they look and feel, but by prompting business start-ups and creating new training opportunities. We are delighted to be able to work with Stoke-on-Trent City Council on these plans that will help transform Burslem and look forward to seeing them progress.

Since 2007, the Townscape Heritage Initiative has seen the city council, Advantage West Midlands, Heritage Lottery Fund and local investment from building owners plough £4m into Burslem. It has successfully supported projects to restore the integrity of historically important streets and buildings within Burslem’s conservation area and act as the catalyst for economic growth for the town.

It has supported initiatives including Swan Bank Methodist Mission, 12-14a Nile Street Live Work Units, Burslem School of Art’s Orangery, 2-4 Market Place (Barewall) and the Swan Hotel.

The second round of the THI funding has renovated 36 properties in the town centre, including 10 properties that were derelict and have now been brought back into use. The programme has reduced the number of empty units in the town centre and has increased businesses in the town from 137 in 2006 to 182 in 2012.

Councillor Rosenau said

The programme is having a significant impact on the historic and economic environment of Burslem town centre. It has helped kick-start the town’s regeneration by bringing derelict buildings back into use, creating a real vibrancy in the town.

The improvement in appearance of buildings and streets has attracted investment, new jobs and restored historic floor space.

But there is further work to do, and the new funding will address this, to ensure the town’s historic buildings are preserved for years to come.

Is it right that Burslem should get a third bite at the funding cherry or should the City Council be looking at getting funding for other towns such as Fenton which often seems to be ignored?

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Only 2,000 tickets remain for the Olympic Torch Relay Evening Celebration in Hanley Park on Wednesday May 30 in what is set to be the city’s biggest ever stage show.

Last month 6,000 tickets went up for grabs for the city’s Olympic Torch Relay Evening Celebration, now only 2,000 tickets remain available and residents are being urged to act fast to avoid disappointment.

Residents can apply for tickets up until 5pm on Friday May 18, 2012 at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/35004892BB7D90BB. While tickets are free of charge there will be a nominal booking fee.

As well as the 6000 tickets available to residents a further 6,000 tickets are being distributed at the request of London 2012 to the Torch Relay Presenting Partners, schools participating in the Torch Relay Community Parade, Torchbearers and Children’s Promise families. Young people from every community in Stoke-on-Trent will be attending the event.

The Flame will arrive in Stoke-on-Trent on Wednesday May 30 at 6:34pm on the Stoke Road junction of Station Road before moving on to Avenue Road, College Road, Cleveland Road and the Parkway before entering the event arena.

Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development, said

The evening celebration is set to be the biggest event the city has ever hosted and we are extremely proud to be hosting an event of such international significance. The eyes of the world will be on Stoke-on-Trent during that evening and this is the chance for local people to become part of this summer’s Olympic legacy.

There are still tickets available but people need to act quickly in order to secure their place. If people cannot get tickets to the event then I hope they line the streets and see the Olympic Torch pass through our city. We have a unique opportunity to show what Stoke-on-Trent has to offer and take our place as a city that can hold its own in the international spotlight.

Olympic partygoers will get to see the chart-topping Kids In Glass Houses perform live as well as guest appearances from a host of sport stars. There will also be incredible acrobatic performances and inspirational local cultural content and digital displays before the Olympic Torch arrives.

Those who are not able to get evening celebration tickets can still line the streets through Shelton for the schools parade where nearly 1,000 children and young people from local schools, colleges and universities will represent Olympic nations on their way to Hanley Park.

Councillor Mohammed Pervez, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, added

The city council is proud to be involved with the Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympics have brought people together from all walks of life and this is a great chance to unite the city as one and show what a great place Stoke-on-Trent is to live and work. It’s incredibly encouraging to see so many tickets already snapped up and I hope people take this opportunity to be part of something truly inspirational.

Further free entertainment will take place in Hanley Park before the Torch passes through the city’s streets and thousands of people are expected to line the route to witness their own Olympic moment.

Following the evening celebration the Flame will be stored overnight in the city departing from the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery at 7am on Thursday May 31, before taking in the City Centre, Burslem, Middleport, and out of Stoke-on-Trent.

Further information about the event can be found at www.stoke.gov.uk/olympics2012.

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196 athletes from across the West Midlands will go for gold in the city this weekend as part of a Special Olympics Athletics Competition.

Competitors from across the region, including 38 athletes from the North Staffordshire Special Olympics Athletics Team will take part in track and field competitions. The events include 3000 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres races, standing long jump, shot putt, and the pentathlon.

The athletes will take part in the North Staffordshire Special Olympics Athletics Competition which is being held at Northwood Stadium, near the City Centre. The competition takes place between 10am and 5pm on Saturday May 19, guests invited include the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Humphrey Scott-Moncrieff, High Sherriff Sarah Elsby, The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent councillor Terry Follows, and former Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Tom Brennan.

Councillor Matt Fry, the Special Olympics fundraiser and promoter, said,

I’m hugely excited that this Special Olympics competition is taking place in Stoke-on-Trent. It’s an area that I’m actively involved in and one that I’m very passionate about. I hope local people take the time to come and support these inspirational young men and women during what should be an exciting competition.

Special Olympics Great Britain is the country’s largest provider of a year round sports training and competition programme for all people with learning disabilities. Special Olympics are part of the Olympic family, but unlike the Paralympics, which is for elite disabled athletes, it is not just a sporting event.  Special Olympics concentrate on community sport at all levels and for all disabilities.

Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development, added,

With the eyes of the world firmly on the UK at the moment with the upcoming Olympic Games it makes us extremely proud as a city to have so many talented athletes from Stoke-on-Trent getting involved. This competition is something which gives a unique chance to those who have faced different challenges growing up and it’s there moment to shine.

Medals presentations will take place after each event and there will be an opening ceremony for each of the teams taking part where the Special Olympics’ oath will be said

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