What projects in Longton are getting cut to prop up the Hanley Bus Station project?
I’ve just read this story on the BBC and the council have said:
Elsewhere, Stoke-on-Trent City Council had planned to apply for money from AWM to build Hanley’s bus station.
However, with the demise of the agency, it said it would divert £5m from regeneration schemes in Burslem, Stoke, Longton and Middleport to fill the funding gap.
Why should the other towns suffer because the council have lost a funding stream? Would they take funding from Hanley to support project for any of the other towns?
I have just seen this story on Pits n Pots
Come Dine With Me Returns To Stoke-on-Trent
Is anyone from Longton going to apply?
I thought I would start reviewing local traders and give them a bit of much needed publicity. First up is Heritage Embroidery from Longton Market
When Alan & Margaret Alcock started Heritage Embroidery they little realised that it would lead to Alan creating embroidered works of art of their home town of Stoke on Trent.
Because in 2004 when they sold their business in the Scottish highlands, they decided to try something completely different. Using a highland village shop as their workshop and base, they specialised in embroidered Scottish Clan Crests, as well as the usual workwear and school wear.
From March to October saw them touring the Scottish Highlands with their fifteen foot exhibition trailer. Attending all the top Highland Gatherings and Pipe Band championships. During this time they counted amongst their customers, Mohamed Al Fayed, the Duke of Argyll, Lord Colquhoun, Eric Idle, as well as several world champion pipers. This continued successfully until 2007 when after 22 years in Scotland, for family reasons, they returned home. Samples of the embroidery can be seen below.
Please do go along and see Alan & Margaret and support them.
Longton Bridge
Wedgwood
Longton Church
Radical Ed is a bit under the weather this week and had to miss his usual Wednesday tidy up around Longton yesterday.
Sorry to those of you who went out looking for him, but don’t worry he will be back out and about next week sorting out the littering problems.
The 162 year old Longton railway bridge is due to be painted this weekend.
Unfortunately Network Rail have not relented and decided to give the bridge its first make over in some 50 years, but local artists and members of the public will be setting up their easels in Times Square between 1100 & 1500 this Saturday (7 August) and painting or sketching the bridge.
Urban Vision North Staffs who are promoting the event say, Come down to Longton and take part in what will be a really unique event – bring your energy, ideas and be ready to paint!
The bridge can be seen from many perspectives as a gateway to the town, so how could we make it more picturesque and welcoming?
Could it be made a focal point to give the town an enhanced sense of pride? We want to use the bridge as a vehicle to build interest, passion and positivity within local community, so to address this structure and how it affects the morale of the town.
Last year Network Rail, who own and are responsible for maintaining the bridge, refused to paint it saying in a statement that ‘the bridge was safe and fit for purpose. Although it is in need of a lick of paint, we have to prioritise maintaining a safe and efficient railway over aesthetics. they suggested it would cost upwards of £1m to repaint it.’
Mick Downs of Urban Vision said, ‘Longton railway bridge is an iconic feature in the town centre, but it is in poor condition and becoming an eyesore. Local people, the City Council and the MP Rob Flello have been campaigning for a long time to get the owner, Network Rail, to stop the bridge from deteriorating further and improve its appearance. Our project aims get the message across that this kind of neglect not only brings down the quality of the town centre but also increases the cost of refurbishment in the long run.’
So if you are in or around Longton on Saturday, why not go along and paint the bridge and show how you think it could look if Network Rail could be convinced to paint it.
Thanks to the guys at Pits n Pots for letting me use this story from their site.
Another hour’s work means another positive change to the town.
Its no secret that some people just come to Longton because Tesco is here, and then only visit the town centre as an extra stop to their visit.
Unfortunately, the sights that welcome them to the town don’t provide the best image for our main shopping area.
Not really ideal, is it?
Cigarette butts and general rubbish all along the length of strand passage.
So a quick snap of the work in action (I love the cat graffiti in the background, looking suspiciously at passers-by).
And so after an hour’s work, the end result is this:
Ok so the road hasn’t been done yet, but the visible area of Strand Passage is so much better! I will get round to the road, but there’s so much more in that area that I’m going to need some help.
Next Wednesday I’ll be going back to Strand Passage to finish cleaning our town’s main pedestrian gateway, the weather should be nicer and I’ll bring some kit. Please come along, bring a broom and show some support for the town, I’ll announce a time and likely duration in the comments below (and on the front page), and anyone is free to turn up and join in for 5 minutes or an hour, whatever suits you best.
Hope you like the improvements everyone,
Peace out,
Radical Ed.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed all the weeds growing out of the pavement next to the card shop on Strand passage. I went up there today to try and catch the mysterious Radical Ed in action and noticed that someone has actually been and weeded for us.
Next action will be Wednesday from 12:30pm in Strand Passage.
I’ll be there for around about an hour, but please feel free to turn up and leave whenever is most convenient.
Binbags and gloves (and the odd broom) provided, but I don’t have any of those litterpicking stick things.
See you all there!
Radical Ed
Radical Eddy has been out in Longton this afternoon and good to his word, he has started cleaning the Spitfire tiles in Bennet Precinct.
Radical Eddy & his trusty sidekick
They weren’t able to get all the way to the top of the tiles but looks like they have done a good job of getting most of the grime off.
No job is too tough and our town centre is worth it. If you see something that Radical Eddy can clean or tidy in the town centre leave a comment below and we’ll make sure it gets done.
