March plan to halt city council's HQ move to Hanley

“Valiant2008

Can you please tell me how are the views of 10 Labour Cabinet members representative of the views of all the residents of Stoke on Trent.

Our next meeting is in a church and if that is still a problem, please suggest a venue and I'll raise it at our next committee meeting.

We are a non-political group of residents who are asking a simple question "Do you have confidence in your Councillors and Officers to administer this city for the benefit of it's residents." This question was deliberate as it polorises responses. People will make their own response based on their personal experiences of life in this city and will answer accordingly.
If your answer is "NO" then please stop writing about it and do something positive and join our march.
If your answer is "YES" then you can get on with your life knowing that everything will be OK. (Please remember that the leaders of our main political parties have all said sorry for what their party has been responsible for in the past. Unfortunately for us it is we that have to live with their inappropriate actions and past decisions.Personally I don't want my grandchildren to be paying off the debts created by people who in all probability will not be here.)

Alan Lear, Lightwood.”

“The only reason they want to move to a new site is not because they need to but because basically no-one in this economic climate wants to move onto the site. They can't just build it in the hope that someone thinks they'll move there. What will happen is that the council will build their building and then because no one else will move in the project will be a half baked one as usual. You're then left with a new business area that contains no new business and an old council office which no one will want to buy and will remain derelict just like the last office they moved out of.

I am still trying to figure out why any business would move to the centre of Hanley when there are cheaper, better places to move to with more parking, better connections and more space. The development is a big gamble that really hasn't been thought through properly. Hanley lacks any prestige so won't encourage significant businesses here. The money would be far better spent on regenerating Burslem for example which is basically dead now.

I'm glad I don't pay any taxes to SOTCC.”

“The next meeting is at Christchurch Tunstall on the corner furlong rd and the high street on Monday 21st Jan at 7:30pm”

“Hey, valiant, take a look at the photos of the meeting - I count at least six women, some young people are clearly visible, and what has skin colour got to do with it? Are you suggesting that those of us who don't want this absurd and unacceptably expensive civic centre move are RACIST? We are not talking about a protest against a mosque or islamic school, you know, just the presidential palace fantasy of a mixed race group of trough hoggers. And these were the organisers, not the entire protest campaign. If that's the best you can do for a smear campaign you're not worth what the council are paying you.”

“I just don't see how borrowing £millions to build a new Civic Center will 'will breed propserity in the surrounding areas'. It will just drain resources trying to pay for it. It the council has that amount of money handy, please spend it on something that WILL bring new business and custom to Stoke on Trent. Seriously, is a new civic center going to make new businesses rush to Stoke on Trent? Of course not!!

I will be going on this march alongside friends of varying ages and colour, male and femal - like that matters anyway!”

“For up to date info please visithttp://tinyurl.com/aprwsxp and get in touch at marchonstoke@hotmail.co.uk”

“Valiant2008 - in a true democracy everyone should shout loud. Why should ordinary people's participation begin and end within a few minutes every few years at the ballot box?

Can you point me to where the article says all those attending the meeting were white middle-aged men? I've read through it several times and can't find that bit.”

“'30 odd middle aged white people' Why the reference to colour? And in case you are unaware, the word 'pub' is short for public house. Note the word 'public' as in open to all members of the public.

Stoke-on-Trent is different. It is a linear city - it is not a city in the truest sense so therefore cannot be treated as any other city in the world. What we have is unique and it is this fact that successive councils have failed to grasp. It should be marketed uniquely and not try to copy other cities. The problem is that successive councils have simply engaged overpaid consultants to tell them how to do something instead of having original thoughts themselves.”

“great why not give Tunstall, Longton, Burslem as well as Hanley there own civic centers and waste a bit more money, What they going to do with the Civic center in Stoke that cost a fortune? Turn it in to a Job center.”

“ALso, how is 30 odd middle aged white people representative of the views of all of Stoke on Trent, also held in a pub therfore excluding some of the community.

Those who shout the loudest.......”