Britannia name to disappear from high street

“by Huey_Hog
"Well 99% of the posts have absolutely nothing to do with the article in any way". -unquote.

I wonder why that is? Maybe there's a link of 'some' sort? Psychological, socilometric?

Your other points, and directly related to the article, were spot on.”

“Well 99% of the posts have absolutely nothing to do with the article in any way. Back to the article, as a Leekensian I will be sorry to see the effects the inevitable closure of the offices will bring to Leek, however, don't forget the Britannia became what it was by doing exactly this to smaller building societies around Britain, that's what happens in business.”

“ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OUTSIDERS ARE ASKING THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OFF GENERATIONS OF LOCAL POTTERIES FOLK -going back to the 18th century and beyond -to pay for policies they strongly, nay fiercely, OBJECT TO."

The 'Family Silver' is being 'casually' SOLD -ABOVER THEIR HEADS.”

“The uniqueness of Stoke-on-Trent and recognised by city planners throughout the UK, with its 'natural linear layout' -is what Stoke on Tent is all about; 'ndustrial', but never far from the countryside; and its 'Six Towns' illustrates this uniqueness, this phenomena -perfectly.

'Small is beautiful'.

-correction: (re earleir post below):-
Our city, which came about through the SIX POTTERY TOWNS which had grown from small settlements, themselves grown from scattered farmsteads across the foothils of the southern Pennines in the 18th century -all fiercely independent and proud, -each with its own idiosyncratic character -'personality' even....

There will be others like me -who, not many years ago, paused in cars, while the farmer herded his cattle down Birches Head Lane -daily -transferring them from one field to the miling paralour -or for beef cattle -from on field to another. Less than a milke from the cente of Hanley -now preferred to be 're-named' THE CITY CENTRE.

That was in the 1970s before the land was sold off to become the 'new residential estate on the eastern side of Birches Head.... ctd below.....”

“cont/d from above:
Likewise, up to the same decade -cattle would be herded daily up and down Newcastle Lane in Penkhull -when the school was then called 'Thistlely Hough High School For Girls'. Less than a mile from Stoke town centre and Stoke City FC's Victoria Ground.

It's this legacy of 'scattered towns' across the hills of the Potteries -'mingling and at ease' with the Pot Banks -also scattered across those hills -that made Stoke-on-Trent so different -so unique -up to 1950 the 8th biggest population in Britain. It is this, the importance of this and felt by the people whose forefathers helped to create this history -THAT THESE 'OUTSIDERERS' these HIGHLY PAID OUTSIDERS -the likes of Van de Larschott and his assocites -who have come here -to advise another 'outsider' -Pervez -and his political 'associates' -on such as this move out of Stoke -and to 'A City Centre'.

If both the 'ADVISORS' AND THE LEADER OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE NO LEGACY HANDED DOWN TO THEM, how can they be expected to 'understand' where we are coming from?

I welcome 'outsiders' WE WERE ALL 'OUTSIDERS AT SOME TIME' except for a very small minority -of such people as the "Wedgwoods of the Harracles" (Horton/Longsdon circa 14th15th Century).
But when people go to live in a place -'outsiders' going to make a life for themselves in 'their adopted city, they should never be in a position of power, where that power can have 'direct influence' on very important policy decisions, discussed and implemented -where those policies affect the very legacy of the place, the area they now call 'home'. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OUTSIDERS ARE ASKING THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OFF GENERATIONS OF LOCAL POTTERIES FOLK -going back to the 18th century and beyond.”

“I'm wondering more and more if this decision to SELL OFF OUR HISTORIC Stoke TOWN HALL -along with all the other things they intend doing to 'enable' them to MOVE OUT OF STOKE -into the BIGTIME, has as much to do with the Stoke-on-Trent people being FORCED TO TURN ITS BACK ON ITS UNIQUE HISTORY... and what it is famous for worldwide through the novels of Arnold Bennett.... such as his famous 'Anna of the Five Towns' (the 'five/six' itself arouses curious enquiry).
I don't think the politicians and professional officials who 'direct policy' really appreciate how much a part Bennett's novels played in the worldwide image of the Potteries. It wasn't just the names on the bottom of the cups and saucers and plates. It was an amalgamation of the two.

Our city, which came about through the SIX POTTERY TOWNS which had grown from small settlements, scattered farms across the , in the 18th century -all fiercely independent and proud, -each with its own idiosyncratic character -'personality' even -and slowly, but grudgingly, came to see that they could POOL THEIR RESOUCES and come together, first as a Federation in 1910 -and then finally as a City on the 1st July 1925.

The six towns of the Pottieries were blessed, not just by having clay and coal under its feet -with which to make the pots, but geographically they were located in such a way,-from Tunstall in the north, in a south-easterly direction to Longton about 7 miles away in the south.

The advantages of this natural 'linear' urban development was not recognised or appreciated at the time of this development as the six towns grew in the 18th and 19th Centuries to become what they are today.
It meant/means that wherever you are in the City, one is never more than 2 miles away from the city boundary -'over the fence and into green fields'. Compare that to the other big cities that grew up in the Industrial Revolution.
...cont/d below”

“cont/d from above:
Birmingham; Manchester; Liverpool; Leeds; Bradford; Bristol; for instance -'formed, not in a linear fashion, but 'centric'. Because of that those citys go on forever, mile after mile of built-up area. Ok, they are much bigger than Stoke-on-Trent, but all those of a similar size as Stoke-on-Trent, with similar populations -'centrically' developed -Coventry; Nottingham; Derby; Northampton; Leicester; Newcastle-on-Tyne; and many more. -Those cities, being 'centric' -traditionally had -'CITY CENTRES' -And from them t=to the countryside is a much further distance than is the 2 miles from ANYWHERE in Stoke-on-Trent.

IT IS THIS "CONCEPT" OF A "CITY CENTRE" -that drives this unimaginitive policy to MOVE AND LUMP TOGETHER 'ALL AND ANYTHING' -that is considered 'administrative' or of 'cultural value'.

All this 'DRIVE' for a CITY CENTRE CONCENTRATION OF POWER COMMERCE AND INFLUENCE-is the brainchild of OUTSIDERS. -OUTSIDERS, whether they be the CHIEF EXECUTIVES and his OFFICIALS, or the COUNCIL LEADER and other Councillors -not born and raised in the 'hills of the SIX TOWNS.
These people, do not understand how we Potteries People relate to OUR SIX TOWNS -AND THEIR HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE to our lives and heritage. They see only 'modernity' and money. They want to make us into something that we could never hope to be. For what -and at what EXPENSE?
The six towns were an ECONOMIC POWER HOUSE before the demise from the 1980s onwards -it flourished without a CITY CENTRE -AND WITH ALL THE POWER CONCENTRATED IN THAT CITY CENTRE.
It is a myth -to scare us into going along with these 'professionals' -THAT WE NEED THIS MOVE TO HANLEY in order to create jobs.... and move into the 21st Century. It's skills that will bring investment to this City -not by having a 'CIVIC CENTRE IN A CITY CENTRE' -that's where our money should be invested; NOT SQUANDERED on ill-thought out policies that will do the city no good whatsoever, -other than make those local Councillors and overpaid 'professional advisors' -feel even more important than they feel at the present.”

“Mergers always result in job losses no matter what. It's just a matter of timing.”

“FACT: The high street is diminishing...3 weeks into 2013 - Jessops/Comet/Blockbuster/HMV and now Britannia BS gone...STOKE COUNCIL SOLUTION: build a new council office & get a 40million+ bank loan. In this current climate...when they are cutting services? Agree or Disagree - make your voice heard on this Petition! If over 5000 people sign they have to listen!

http://tinyurl.com/c3dw4el”

“@ stokeandvale

My mistake, I thought they'd given assurances that the Britannia name would remain on the High Street and that the merger wouldn't result in any job losses.”