Delays for Stoke City's £6m academy revamp at Trent Vale site
COUNCILLORS are to inspect Stoke City's training complex before making a decision on a £6 million expansion.
The club wants to redevelop the Clayton Wood ground, in Trent Vale, and transform the academy in a bid to improve youth facilities at the site.
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VISION: Artist's impression of the plans.
The proposals would see an extension of the current facilities and the creation of a building to house a full-sized indoor football pitch.
The club hopes that the development, which will create 100 jobs, will help the site become a category one school of excellence to allow the club to attract players aged 12 and over from across the country.
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If it meets the standards it will also be allowed to sign up those as young as five who live within a 90-minute drive of the Britannia Stadium.
But the plans are yet to be approved by Newcastle Borough Council after councillors voted to make a visit to the site before making its final decision at a meeting last night.
Councillor George Cairns said: "Many members of the council will not have been down to the area in a few years and with this being a major development for the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle areas, I feel that a site visit should be carried out before we make any decisions."
More than 120 people signed a petition calling for the plans to be altered to include a new access road following concerns about an increase in traffic around their neighbourhood.
Roger Pedley, from Riverside Road, said: "Nobody is against the academy, in fact, we think it is a great thing for the young ones.
"The issue is purely access. The roads are not capable of dealing with the big buses and the lorries and the general increase in cars. I fear it is an accident waiting to happen.
"I am all for them spending all this money on improving the facilities but I just think they should include a separate access point."
Eric Challinor, also from Riverside Road, said: "The best solution would be for them to build a new road.
"The residents have suffered from the amount of traffic coming down the roads over the last couple of months and I believe that this is only going to get worse from now on."
Les Porch, who lives in Hanley but tends an allotment near to the site, said: "The level of traffic is already disproportionate to the streets and is having a negative impact on residents' businesses and livelihoods.
"An alternative access should be made available to take all traffic away from residential streets.
"Also, the noise and light pollution will have a profound effect on residents and wildlife."
Comments
by 7buster
Thursday, June 21 2012, 11:40AM
“There was a petition that went around the streets concerned in Trent Vale and some of the comments said what the police and the council thought with regards to SCFC.
Footballers speeding down Riverside Road and when the police are informed 'we will have a word with them', 'without proof there is not much we can do'.
The council are no better with the attitude they take. Disregarding the residents complaints and concerns over the damage to the roads, pavements, the trees lining the streets and the mess that is left lying around by the contractors that work on the training ground.
And Stoke City Football Clubs total ignorance when you contact them over any matter concerning the training ground.
It seems that SCFC and its employees and associates can do what they want when they want.”
by camband
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 9:26PM
“This issue was covered at length by Radio Stoke this morning -with many residents 'phoning and texting in.
Re the increased volume of traffic that has occurred over recent years in the access streets and avenues directly involved, at least two of them complained of how ridiculously fast many of them speed down these relatively narrow roads -which have parked cars on them too.
The latter concern doesn't surprise me -with all the Court Reports we keep reading about re Stoke City FC -fines and points being imposed from Manager to Players -they are never out of the news.
We all know how 'slow' 30mph feels when coming off a 70mph carriageway -and it takes more self-control to observe that 'slow' speed -than modern Football Managers and Players seem to possess. They bring trouble to their own front door by this impatient -irresponsible attitude to driving a motor vehicle.
It's now catching up with them in ways they didn't foresee. Serves them right.”
by Dizzy1960
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 6:48PM
“Peter Coates doing deals with Councillors and other unscrupulas individuals has gone on for a while. Just look at the deal involving the Victoria Ground, implemented to hoodwink the residents of Stoke-upon-Trent out of land developed by the Church and Athletic Club to provide the inhabitants with community facilities. Because other towns were having parks!
It's about time the residents stood up to these manipulative individuals, who aren't concerned or interested in the inconveniences caused through their greedy manipulative ways.
Apark4Stoke@LUZ
honi soit qui mal y pense”
by 7buster
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 2:49PM
“This training facility should never have been built where it is. And now SCFC want to take another piece of greenbelt land and a wildlife haven just so that a privileged few can 'kick a bo'. Back in 2009 when planning was given to the existing facility, it was a pack of lies. The planning report for this extension is also full of lies.
There are dozens of brown field sites within Stoke and Newcastle that need developing. But yet again its all about the greasing of palms. If that's democracy and your local council listening to the electorate then no wonder that people have had enough of politics.”
by Focus386
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:52PM
“With all the above comments making sense, but it will still get passed as Coates bought Stoke council years ago. Just like all the other plans such as their stadium, no parking but councillors passed it...money talks”
by amartinone
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:19PM
“Just had a quick look at Google Maps, and I'd like to ask where these residents would like this access road to go? In theory, having a new access road is a perfectly good idea, but in reality there are a few problems.
The way I see it, this access road can link to one of a number of places:
1. Northwood Lane - this will be a quite tight and dangerous junction, considering its location at the bottom of a steep hill, and cause problems for the Northwood residents.
2. Hanford roundabout - this will need some demolition, maybe a tunnel or bridge (depending on what side of the D-road this is done), and would be quite a tight junction, immediately next to a slip-road
3. Elsewhere on the A34 - will be very close to the roundabout and will need some demolition
4. On the A500 slip-roads (eastbound off-slip and westbound on-slip) - probably the safest option, but will need a tunnel/bridge over the D-road and some demolition of some buildings south of the D-road.
5. On the A500 itself - will involve the same demolition and tunnel/bridge as option 4, but the junction will be very close to the Hanford junction.”