“Well said Tony of Hartshill.
The main email newsletter from the Sentinel is split into 3 sectons.
News, Football, Showbiz.
It is about time that the Sentinel and all other regional newspapers realized that in real life football and showbiz are not important issues for most people. Like Tony suggests they should put more energy and hope behind issues that will make life better, sweeter and more secure for everyone. Another kebab/betting/sex shop or arcade will not cut it. Nor will Stoke winning the premier league.”

“OK what happened to the days when teenagers went to the arcade to have fun, as far as i know there's only the Odeon that provides some sort of arcade,(even that is small). As far as i know, sex shops that sell lingerie are actually better as they sell better quiality, wider ranges and bigger sizes of lingerie,(especially bigger bra cup sizes) and i don't see a problem with bookies anyway. To be honest i think it is another bad idea of the councils.”

“I think is the right thing to do, yes this is free country but Hanley is in desperate need of change. I work near the Cultural Quarter and walk through it everyday, I don't care about bookies or sex shops however there's loads of empty shops all over Hanley, why can't you locate them somewhere else. You people who think its pretensious to have culture in the city centre should get real, leave the 1970's and join the rest of us in the 21st C. A good CQ would attract tourists, generate money, create jobs and someting for all ages to come and visit and provide something for local people and out of towners. It could be a real success however, the Rengeration people and council need to develop a vision and strategy and stick to it most of all involve and listen to local people. If I ran it I'd give free parking nearby all day every day as a first! second This is supposed to be the Potteries but you can't buy anything locally produced, in the city centre, why not close the charity shops which are a cancer in every town, The CQ has a couple of good shops but its only a couple, why not have subsidised rent and rates shops for local pottery, crafts, art galleries, music, boutiques, design led shops like furniture, a good Deli, create working spaces for artists and potters and let the public in to see them work, create learning spaces to learn hands on art, pottery, how to do animation or computer based design, get people creating and doing. Stop moaning about this being Stoke or whatever, be positive!!! The CQ needs something quick, anything other than the depressing selection of charity shops and empty premises, also be creative with the space and have live music in the summer, flea markets, continental markets and events for people of all ages but most of all create some spirit, character or soul cos at the moment the place is depressing! I'd rather go to Manchester or Chester they know what they are doing and the council supports the development of the city rather than spends its time being complacent, deaf to the public and worse of all incapable of getting off its backside and getting something done! Also The Sentinel should work with the council and create some positive vibes as you bring the city down; every cloud has a silver lining.”

“It would be cleaner up Hanley if there were a lot less takeaways & kebab shops about (at least the rats would be a bit smaller !). Less rubbish blowing about as well, which you don't seem to get genrated from sex shops do you ?”

“should we not first try and improve the infrastucture. its still murder trying to get in and out of hanley. i've no problem with sex shops and bookies, they appear to have got into the 21st century and smartened up their acts. why isn't the council in the same league.”

“I think we're all forgetting something.

This is STOKE.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear and you're not going to turn Hanley into Chester.
We need some realistism here and some realistic expectations of what can be achieved in the long term. If the Regen people get their way all that there will be is long line of failed businesses. The Cultural Quarter, if it's true to the people of Stoke should be full of pubs, oatcake shops and bookies.

The pretension of the people in charge amazes me and is surley going to lead to yet another failure.

Be realistic people and give this City something the people will use.”

“Go to big cities in Germany or Holland etc and you'll find big, classy, women-friendly sex shop chains like Beate Uhse's right in there with all the "chic" department stores. They aren't sleazy at all and they're a part of the shopping choice just as much as the shoe shops. Put something like that in Hanley and people might actually want to go there. BTW when did the City council suddenly get authorised to become conservative moral guardians>”

“If the regeneration is done well and to a high standard there will be no need to ban them kinds of things.Classy shops will want to take up space and open up there. Do it badly and on the cheep then you get the other side, namely sex shops, bookies and ofcourse Chav heaven, The Arcades.”

“People need to get a life instead of trying to change other people's?
I agree with Daz i thought we lived in a FREE country???
Pathetic”

“Is Mr Alcock going to complain about this as well? Can't see the problem with sex shops, bookies and arcades, they cater to a market. If they're fully licensed and don't trade in anything illegal why do people still have a problem with them? Is selling a Rampant Rabbit or films like Lusty Linda In Leather really that bad?”