Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke.

Wat Tyler Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 04:07:15 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

A report written by Will Hutton, Chief Executive of the Work Foundation, has concluded that it could take thirty years to fully regenerate the Potteries.
 

 



 

For years Stoke-on-Trent has been a city in trouble, coal, steel and finally the pottery industry all left town leaving in their wake economic stagnation and deep seated social problems, the report commissioned by the city council reveals just how much needs to be done to get the city back on its feet.

 

North Staffordshire, is, according to a statement by Mr Hutton reported in the Sentinel, ‘at a crossroads. It has an opportunity to start building on its assets and turning its economy around.’

 

Quite correctly the study carried out by the Work Foundation, as reported in the local press today, focuses on the importance of improving educational attainment, employment opportunities and public health.

 

The report also stresses the need for councils in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and Staffordshire Moorlands to work together on regeneration projects.

 

More controversially Hutton highlights the need to increase ‘optimism’, no easy task for a city that has been the butt of cheap jokes and negative news stories for decades.

 

On a more practical note he has called for progress to be made on projects such as the long overdue regeneration of Hanley Bus Station, which should create new jobs and improve the physical environment for residents and visitors to the city.

 

In the press Mr Hutton is reported as saying, ‘Leaders in North Staffordshire need to use the next twelve months to ensure that the transformation over the next thirty years becomes a reality.’

 

He is quite right, however daunting the task ahead might seem the risks associated with letting a city blessed with a splendid geographical location and a workforce with a  little utilised flair for creativity fall behind its near neighbours mean that hesitating is not an option.

 



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Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. | 11 comments (11 topical)

Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#1)

by redandready on Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 05:02:02 PM GMT

I haven't seen the press coverage of this yet, but the point about the three local authorities working together is a vital one.  North Staffordshire is a conurbation of itself and it would make a lot more economic sense for these local authorities to working increasingly together.  The problem is that Tory controlled Staffordshire Moorlands seems determined to avoid this at all costs.  They have even started sharing a Chief Executive with High Peak in Derbyshire.  The fact is that the residents of North Staffordshire would benefit considerably in attracting larger regeneration projects to the area (and investment in the infrastructure) if they were sharing resources and working together generally.  I gather this report was asked for by the Stoke-on-Trent Elected Mayor, Mark Meredith, in the first instance.  Will Hutton's conclusions won't have surprised him, but if it is greeted by another round of negative media coverage and wringing of hands from opposition politicians, no progress will have made made.


Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#2)

by bigpapi on Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 09:10:18 PM GMT

One of the main problems is going to be that politicians in Stoke-on-Trent spend the 12 months after May's elections arguing about the future model of governance for the City ahead of a referendum in 2009, and not on actually doing anything constructive.

Too many members of the Labour Group are more obsessed with opposing everything and anything the Labour Elected Mayor proposes than in running the City, and promoting the Labour Party to the electorate, and the Local Government Committee still seems to think Jim Callaghan is Prime Minister.  Maybe another three or four BNP councillors after May (God help us) will bring them into the 21st Century, but I doubt it.

The best chance for North Staffordshire regeneration was missed when Major's Government chose only to create a Unitary Authority for Stoke, and not create a North Staffordshire conurbation combining Stoke, Newcastle and the Moorlands.


Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#3)

by Parishpumpspin on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 09:04:17 AM GMT

Whilst I agree on the logic of a "Greater Stoke" I do think you attack the wrong people. The real issue is Meredith, his ego, lack of political judgement, his ever decreasing circle of friends and totally reliance on the Regional Party to survive. Once he is withdrawn from the equation then perhaps real work can begin.


[ Parent ]

Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#4)

by redandready on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 02:34:14 PM GMT

No, having commissioned the report in the first place, I don't think the Elected Mayor is the impediment to progress.  The Tory leaders of the Councils in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Moorlands are lukewarm to hostile (for narrow political reasons) and they are the main reason so little progress is being made in North Staffordshire.  Parishpumspin's focus on this issue is completely introverted and seems to be focussed on the factions of the Stoke on Trent Labour Party.  If we continue with personal attacks on each other, we will be worse than the Tories.  The Mayor seems to be trying to look at the bigger picture.  We should all do the same!


[ Parent ]

Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#5)

by laurencemarshall on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 03:01:51 PM GMT

In repect of Newcastle-under-Lyme, it's not the case that it's a narrow political point that the now Tory lead council won't go in with Stoke. When Stoke became a unified authority originally, Newcastle was invited to become part of Stoke (under a Labour council I believe). Seeing how badly Stoke has done, I think  Newcastle has done significantly better without it, hence the lack of will from all parties to go in with Stoke now.


[ Parent ]

Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#6)

by Parishpumpspin on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 03:10:20 PM GMT

The Mayor is incapable of looking at the bigger picture he is too engrossed in his own battle for survival. He knows he is unpopular, knows that he will lose any referendum on retaining an Elected Mayor and on the off chance their is an election for one knows he will only be the candidate if the rules are rigged by region. The irony about Mark is that under normal circumstances he politically comes from simular territory to me, unfortunatily as a person he is untrustworthy, disloyal and blinkered, all of which is known to Labour Party members in Stoke and thus will ensure he will never join his buddie Mr Fellows at Westminster.


[ Parent ]

Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#7)

by bigpapi on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 03:32:54 PM GMT

Who, pray tell, is Mr Fellows at Westminster?  I am a Labour Party member in Stoke-on-Trent and have never heard of him.

I assume you refer to Rob Flello, Stoke South's Member (if you're going to through baseless insults at least know what you're talking about).

You have ignored the fact made by a previous poster that it was Newcastle Borough Council who refused to join a North Staffordshire conurbation way before the stupid idea of Elected Mayors was even thought of by Blair and Raynsford.

More has been done during Mark's term of office than has happened in Stoke for many years - largely because he is prepared to work with the Regional Party and others, rather than seek conflict with them at every turn.


Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#8)

by Parishpumpspin on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 04:01:14 PM GMT

Oh dear, forum arguement syndrome seems to have kicked in, apologies for getting the name of the MP for Stoke South wrong, spelt it like it sounded in my head, price I pay for a working class education...Now back to reality, The Work Foundation report was commissioned for one reason only, as a consulation after MM's dream of a directly elected "City Region" hit the buffers (which was particularly hard on MM as he had been reassured that the City Region concept would be piloted in North Staffs by the then Minister, The MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth). As already stated, the idea of the three boroughs been merged has metit..and was still alive as a prospect up to 18 months ago...however it is now a non-starter. Others can decide, whether the timing of the its decline as an achievable policy is co-incidential to the issues MM had over the "jobs for the boys" scandal or the loss of his political advisor or the loss of his Deputy and long time friend or the decsion to do deals with the BNP. I'm happy with my judgement of the man and whilst I would not be "happy" to see the inevitable conclusion to events that are due in 2009 I won't be surprised.


[ Parent ]

Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#9)

by redandready on Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 05:31:35 PM GMT

I thought this debate was about regeneration in North Staffordshire?  Mark Meredith runs the ingle biggest local authority in the Potteries, but I don't think he warrants the attention (obsession?) that Parishpumspin affords him.  If people feel that the issue of the Elected Mayor in Stoke on Trent such highly personal and intense comment at those of Parishpumspin - they could try starting their own thread.  Deals with the BNP!?  What are you talking about?

I agree with the previous post about the missed opportunity in the 1990s when Newcastle-under-Lyme wasn't included in the Stoke on Trent Unitary status.  I would also question the assertion that Newcastle is doing 'better' than Stoke.  In some ways it is, but the demographics of the area overall give it advantages.  But the local politicians can hardly claim that Newcastle does not have its fair share of under-achievement, low aspiration and poverty related issues to be sorted out.

My point is this.  A larger unit based on North Staffordshire wouldbe better placed to bid for and attract far more inward investment and jobs than the three disparate and seperate local authorities which currently exist.  The Potteries are at a particular disadvantage, given its proximity to Greater Manchester in the north and the West Midlands conurbation in the south - both of which are less than an hour's drive away and have much greater pulling power.

The local authorities which exist today are not designed for the investment challenges which the 21st Century present.  The politicians of all Parties and all areas in North Staffordshire (whether in Leek, Longton or Loggerheads) need to put their infighting and point scoring aside and the interests of their voters first.  Sadly, from some of the posts already on here, it is clear that this imperative needs to be absorbed by Labour Party members too.



Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#10)

by bigpapi on Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 02:30:43 PM GMT

redandready we seem to be in complete agreement; and I think parishpumspin owes us an explanation when he refers to deals with the BNP.  As an CLP activist in Stoke I can assure him that neither MM or the Labour Group have ever done deals with the BNP, and if he cannot substantiate that scandalous slur he should have the decency to retract it.

As for a public education - I went to Special School and FE College - two A levels and RSA Typing Grade II - but I can still spell!  The quality of education is nothing to do with the ability to spell!


[ Parent ]

Re: Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. (#11)

by Ash on Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 07:24:59 AM GMT

Hi,

Id just like to say what a fantastic discussion this is, having trailed the internet, read the setinel and looked at plans for two years its good to see people actually discussing the issue in stoke on trent!

I myself first investigated this after hearing about the "University Quarter" plans, im a 20 year old University Student and Staffs uni Studying law, ive grown up in stoke for my entire life. I work in Newcastle Under Lyme and i went to high school and college in Cheadle, the moorlands. So i like to think i have a pretty varied view as far as different parts of north staffordshire are concerned.

I currently live in Shelton as its easier being a student, and to be honest im ashamed of the place. Its run down, ive been attacked and put in hospital, i dont like walking late at night and hanley park is just another story altogether!

The area has so much potential being so close to the university, train station and hanley. This area for me most certainly should be seen/used as a direct route to hanley. It should link road, with rail and then to a regenerated Bus station! A tram service running all the way up college road to Hanley centre, then back down through hanley and onto Leek road meeting up again infront of the train station.

Ive seen something of this nature being used in Nottingham City Centre and for time ive spent there at at the university it was fantastic, cheap, regular and affordable. And i have no doubt far better than a bus. The area could then be partly pedestrianised allowing cars and pedestrians interact.

This would then mean more use of hanley park, also Stoke On Trent College, wow what a total dump that place is. Ive never seen such a lack of builders in all my life. Who would want to learn there!

But i do like whats being done on Lichfield Street called the City Slipway with a 17 story building and many homes being built. Id like to draw everyones attention to the following website

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=390289

Its made for some interesting reading and shown some of the great plans for the city which frustratingly i cant find anywhere else, i dont understand why a temporary building/boards are not placed in Hanley city centre stating when there will be meetings, showing plans, updates etc and getting people proud of there city and what were doing here because at the moment, im fed up of meeting people from university, on nights out and they hate the place. Im proud of the this city, its my home and i want to see it improve but at the current so place there is no hope!

This was supported when i re read a recent article in the sentinel where it was stated 2.2 billion was coming to the city but later on the article says only "34 million" has currently been found. Oh dear, oh dear oh dear.

Having heard speeches and read articles from Meredith i think hes doing very well, at least hes acting and getting something done which should of started 30 years ago, hes finally getting the sources in place so hopefully my children will want to stop here instead of everyone else trying to escape. So i dont care if hes labour, lib dem, tory, bnp, gay, pink or orange! Hes doing what everyone else couldnt so he gets my support.

Ive heard rumors of selfridges going in Hanley bus station, the bus station being revamped, new plans for hanley centre, the culture quarter *what a failure that was* and expansions to the potteries shopping centre, the new university quarter but no far nothing has happened!

This is again why i think putting more information in the public domain will cause people to push for more to be done and faster. At the moment im playing with the idea of setting up a website and forum to post updates, news and allow some discussion as im frustrated this isnt happening anywhere else other than the un related argument i read on this topic.

But if this takes place i will let you know. 


Hutton's Wake Up- Call to Troubled Stoke. | 11 comments (11 topical)