Mother Town plan to bring tourists to Stoke-on-Trent
AN AMBITIOUS project to revitalise Stoke-on-Trent's Mother Town could make it a centre for tourism within the Potteries.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet will scrutinise the Draft Burslem Conservation Plan at its meeting tomorrow and is expected to approve the document.
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Empty: The former Royal Doulton factory
The plan should provide the town's heritage with greater protection, which will mean in future repairs to the town's oldest and most important buildings will be expected to be in keeping with the original design.
The plan also highlights the need to make more use of Burslem's empty and derelict buildings, using funding from sources such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and Burslem Regeneration Company, to refurbish sites like the former Royal Doulton factory or Wedgwood Print Works.
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It recognises the current weakness of the town's retail sector – with many businesses struggling to survive.
But the document maps out a plan to revitalise the Mother Town by taking advantage of its historical importance, with heritage trails tracing Burslem's importance to the pottery industry a possibility in the future.
A report to the cabinet says: "In 1680, Burslem was an isolated hilltop moorland settlement but over the following 40 years, with the development of what would become the largest concentration of potteries in Staffordshire, it established the street pattern which is evident today.
"This historical development is directly relevant to the character of the town. In the late 20th and early 21st century, the pottery industry has declined and all but disappeared.
"The lower slopes of the hillside that were covered in chimneys are now cleared sites awaiting redevelopment.
"Many of the buildings within the town reflect the importance of these past glories, including the Wedgwood Institute, School of Art and two town halls."
Burslem's strengths are seen as its link to the industrial heyday of the potteries, along with the character of its many historically important buildings.
Its weaknesses are recognised as the number of derelict buildings, the poor quality of repairs, the struggling retail sector and the relatively high price for parking in the town.
The vision for Burslem is to develop it as an attractive place to live, to develop the tourist trade based on its heritage, to bring back derelict buildings into use and to make it easier to get in and out of the Mother Town.
But the city council admits more funding must be secured if it is to achieve its aims, including from private developers.
Lydia Palmer, aged 47, of Wycliffe Street, Burslem, a leader at St John's church, said: "Anything is better than how the town is at the moment.
"We desperately need the buildings brought up to scratch, particularly the empty buildings."
Burslem councillor Alan Dutton, Labour, said: "The heritage is all we have to sell in Burslem. The idea of retail coming to the town is slowly disappearing."
Comments
by Martinreilly
Saturday, April 06 2013, 2:08PM
“ARE THE COUNCIL REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT PUTTING BURSLEM BACK ON THE MAP?
THEIR TREATMENT OF THE WEDGWOOD BIG HOUSE WHICH HAS NOW BEEN DECORATED WITH BRIGHT COLOURS TO HIGHLIGHT THE DAMAGE STOKE CITY COUNCIL'S PAVEMENT IS DOING TO IT SUGGESTS NOT!
THE OWNER OF THE BIG HOUSE WANTED TO FLY A FLAG FROM THE BUILDING'S FLAG POLE TO ADVERTISE BURSLEM, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE COUNCIL THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM (THE COUNCIL) MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED POUNDS TO DO SO!!!”
by camband
Thursday, October 25 2012, 11:09AM
“'Stoke' not 'Edale' -should be the starting point for the Pennine Way. Or the 'finishing point' if doing the walk from north to south.
Here's a challenge to those 'walkers and ramblers' out there - 'What route would you recommend as the best, from Stoke to Edale'?
But, taking into consideration that the 'Pennine Way' avoids passing through major towns and cities, a 'place' -village on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent should be the point to start or finish the walk.... whilst still recognising the fact that Stoke-on-Trent is in its 'southern-most tip'.
Personally, in that case, as a starting point, I'd suggest as a possible... Norton-in-the-Moors (border village'. The route could then start by following the source of the River Trent -to the 'head of the Trent' on Biddulph Moor -and progress on from there across some outstanding beautiful landscape -to the 'three shires head' at Axe Edge on the Staffordshire Border -and close to the highest village in England -Flash. Then stay on the tops -skirting Buxton and Chapel-en-le-Frith to Edale.
We need a pressure group setting up -for a more authentic Pennine Way Walk.... covering the whole of the Pennines and not ending prematurely as it does now at Edale in Derbyshire.”
by warren-lloyd
Thursday, October 25 2012, 3:38AM
“I'll give you a clue. Think Arnold Bennett, you already have the groundwork done with the blue signs on some buildings. The School of Art to, use what you have got working and get it working better. Its like Longton, they could use Gladstone more, and not having building falling down around it would not go a miss. We don't need yo be scared to talk to the owners of these buidings.”
by PlayboyLeaLea
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 11:21PM
“i know burslem has to be revamped, but why don't the council fix the roof (or what ever was wrong) with the indoor market? when i was younger i used to love going in there and race to the pet stall to get the dog some pig ears =) bet it would've be A LOT CHEAPER to sort out than that stupid ceramica...”
by camband
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 7:37PM
“As I said in my initial comment re:-
The true southern end of the Pennines is in the Stoke-on-Trent area, about 40 miles (64 km) south of Edale. (Wikipedia)
http://tinyurl.com/2v275ca"
For those people familiar with this 'iconc long distance walk' -known as the PENNINE WALK' and which attracts hundreds of walkers from all over Britain to complete this challenging long distance walk, possibly running into the thousands -annually, -SHOULD NOT THE 'PENNINE WALK' be RE-ROUTED and commence at its true most southerly point -IN STOKE-ON-TRENT? Making it more authentic.
Whoever set up this 'long distance walk' -should be made to redress their mistakes and return to do a proper job on it -here in the Potteries southern tip of the Pennine Chains. That would do much to put us even more on the map -and a brisk trade in the 'out-door' shops would benefit too.
Will our Council lift a finger -of course not -a bunch of 'dead-beat apathetics'.”
by Mr_Jingles
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 6:58PM
“Here we go again, does anybody remember the Ceramica debacle.”
by ianf1000
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 3:20PM
“Well done Moderator, whats up dare you not print the truth. ?!?!?!?!
Only hit return read it once and was ripped down LOL”
by ianf1000
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 3:14PM
“Someone on here said today it's never too late as long as there is people dedicated to do something about it.......
Thats the whole point people......This Council stamp all over those wanting to do something about it by cleverly putting obstacles in their way and at every sly junction.
The only help they are interested in is taking cash from developers then blaming them when it fails from their lack of input or obstacle building.
This area for Tourism.........Please please who would want to visit this mish mosh of poorly planned failed regeneration projects spread so thinly that most effort goes to Hanley anyway.
If I was a tourist I'd give this hole a wide berth honestly.
I once read a piece in the sentinel about a bloke coming to stoke wanting to invest, he could not find anywhere to park so he put his money elsewhere. Sensible chap.
New chant for the cause......
STOKE STOKE THE TOURIST JOKE PENSION OFF THE COUNCIL BLOKES
IF THEY SQUEAL PAY THEM WELL BEFORE THEY SEND US ALL TO HELL (REPEAT UNTIL HEARD)
Power to the People.”
by Valeplace
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 2:17PM
“I do love these Town Planners. How much did we spend on the Pottery Museum? Only for it to close due to lack of "tourist" visitors,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Just beggars belief, it truly does!”
by Pinchofsalt
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 1:42PM
“Mother town. Exactly. How long do we intend to labour under this misguided and probable politically-led assumption that Burslem is part of a 'city'? It, like the rest of the neighbouring conurbations are towns. Always were, always will be and no amount of fiddling and hype by a 'City' Council will turn it into one. The 'City' Centre (or should that now be Sentral, to add both insult and a contemporary predilection for 'cool' spelling) is now, I believe, considered to be Hanley.Or is it Tesco?
And while we're on the subject, I always thought a 'city' should at least have a decent bus service . . . .”