FLY into Heathrow, drive up the M1, take M6 to Junction 15 and follow the signs. Special parking is clearly indicated and there are hotels nearby.

Yes, it has happened. The Staffordshire Hoard has already enjoyed one successful exhibition in Stoke-on-Trent – so much so that selected items still remain on display in an extended showing.

This priceless Saxon treasure has attracted huge visitor numbers, including many from overseas. The Hoard in Stoke-on-Trent has been an unqualified success.

The managers and staff from Stoke-on-Trent City Council who have co-ordinated the exhibition deserve all our respect.

They have ensured that, not only does the actual gold look its best, but also that practical arrangements like road signs, parking and tourist information are joined up to give an excellent visitor experience.

People queue for hours to see the Hoard because they know it is worth the wait. The award-winning Potteries Museum and Art Gallery welcomed a record number of guests during the initial exhibition and demonstrated that we can attract more visitors than Birmingham.

This was a truly Stokie event with local people volunteering to help out with stewarding or welcoming. Many of our visitors, including Prince Charles saw not only the Hoard, but also the world's finest collection of Staffordshire ceramics, which is also displayed in the museum.

The heir to the throne was apparently almost as impressed by our permanent collection as he was by the Hoard. I heard one commentator on Radio 4 describe our museum as better than the newly-refurbished Victoria and Albert in London.

In the week following the discovery of the treasure, I urged local MPs and other leaders to lobby Government to create a special national Saxon museum here in Stoke-on-Trent.

That would have helped to restore our tourist industry. I said then that if they were serious about regeneration they would be ensuring that this treasure became 'Potteries' gold'.

Sadly, if not unexpectedly, my suggestions were completely ignored. I was irritated to hear chums involved in our supposed regeneration explaining that we had to work collaboratively with Birmingham on the Hoard. They believed that Brummies were the experts and that a bid for a museum here was unrealistic.

The huge success of the recent exhibition has demonstrated that we are absolutely the equal of Birmingham and should have bid against them to get the Hoard back in Staffordshire where it belongs.

It is not surprising of course, that our visitor numbers rivalled Birmingham's. It has long been recognised, if not, sadly, acted upon, that Stoke-on-Trent has more people resident within an hour's travel of the city centre than Birmingham.

We have a museum with better parking next door and we have staff and volunteers on hand who are familiar with displaying a collection of national importance.

Birmingham would have viewed any bid to house the Hoard here as audacious. However, as the exhibition here has demonstrated, we are at least their equal and our argument in favour of a Staffordshire base should have been unstoppable.

Having a national Saxon museum here in Stoke-on-Trent would have given us a real national boost. It would have enhanced our image and brought millions of tourists. Jobs and wealth would have followed. We have sadly missed out this time.

Our leaders must learn the lesson of that failure, they must realise that 'Potteries gold' will not be found by the faint-hearted.

The only thing that held us back this time was their failure to believe. If they want to lead us to a healthier, wealthier and more harmonious future, they must leave no stone unturned.