TRADERS say they are unhappy but not surprised that more than £5 million of regeneration funding is to be diverted away from sprucing up their town.

The money had been earmarked to fund facelifts for historic buildings in Burslem and Middleport, but will now be used to prop up Hanley's £15 million new bus station scheme.

The diverted cash will plug a funding gap stemming from the abolition of regional development body Advantage West Midlands (AWM).

Senior Stoke-on-Trent city councillors said the bus station had to be their highest priority as it could potentially benefit the whole city.

But shop owners in the Mother Town condemned the decision, saying the authority had again let Burslem down.

Howard Latham, owner of Robert G Stone Jewellers, in Market Place, and the last president of the now defunct Burslem Chamber of Trade, said: "I'm not surprised the money is going to Hanley, but I'm not happy about it at all.

"For the past 20 years Hanley has been getting all the money, while Burslem has been left on its own.

"When we finally get some money to improve the buildings, it gets diverted to Hanley again. It's happened time and time again and it's not right."

Kelly Bates, owner of Robert's Bridal Shop, also in Market Place, said: "It doesn't surprise me that they've done this. I think they might as well just close all the towns down.

"Things are started in Burslem, but they're never finished.

"Unfortunately it does have an effect on the businesses in the town. Who wants to come to a town which looks derelict in places?"

Ms Bates agreed that the bus station was a priority. But she added: "Why couldn't they have made sure all the funding was in place before they started?"

The funding is part of the £12 million sustainable urban development (SUD) package allocated to North Staffordshire by AWM.

A total of £5.17 million was due to be spent on Burslem building improvement scheme and the planned refurbishment of the Middleport Pottery factory.

It was hoped the improvements would kick-start regeneration in the Mother Town.

But the money will now be reallocated to the bus station, the first phase of the East West shopping centre scheme, which is due to start next spring.

The cabinet's decision means that investment in Longton and Stoke town centres will also be put off.

Labour councillor Mervin Smith, cabinet member for city development, said: "The major regeneration projects will be protected and brought to fulfilment.

"Without these we will not get the major economic benefits that will follow on from them, which will benefit the whole city.

"If we do not proceed with the bus station, the East West project would not be able to proceed. This would be disastrous for the economy and future of the city."

Mr Smith said that the council would continue to seek alternative funding for the other regeneration projects in the city.

Amanda Bromley, who runs Burslem's Barewell Gallery, said she understood why the cabinet had made its decision.

She said: "Obviously this is a blow to Burslem town centre, but I do think that the bus station does have to be a priority for the future of the city.

"I hope the council works really hard to find other funding to plug this gap in Burslem, though.

"It is very disappointing that we're losing the money, but I can understand why the council is doing it."