What's going on up 'anley, Duck? Many big chains may have moved out, but they've made space for local independent businesses to set up shop, says Mel Osbourne
There’s no going back now to high volume footfall and there’s 20+ towns/smaller cities in the midlands & the North in a similar boat. Reasons range from online sales/home deliveries, covid, Brexit, cost of living crisis plus an negativesidentity issue which Hanley has. (More so amongst locals than outsiders - or so it sometimes feels!) One idea I sent to Staffordshire & S-O-T tourism offices about a year ago was a Staffordshire 100 circular trail. (Borrowing the idea from Scotland’s north coast 500 route) Somour’s would entail tourists driving cycling running or walking an approx 100 mile route and taking in a number of optional stops such as the potteries, Uttoxeter racecourse, former Bass brewery Burton, Alton towers, Cannock Chase, Lichfield Cathedral, Drayton Manor Park, Stafford the county town, Stone canal town etc etc Yep - you’ve guessed it! - no reply!
I have lived in the area for 60 yrs A trip to Hanley used to be such a treat gorgeous shops ( Huntbatches Bratt and Dykes M and S and British home stores ) The pottery centre was full of independent stores and cafes it was such fun Now I am afraid I never venture there the last time was several years ago to drop something off at Wrenches ( an independent jewellers ) it was so sad I was shouted at by several guys on spice at 11 am It is a no go area for all my friends sadly I challenge the council to look at it again and look at free rents /rates for the independent shops and free parking to draw back people and robust policing to clear and manage the streets
It would be great to see Hanley as a place of genuine regeneration. Longton exchange has been a success story- fingers crossed for Hanley
There’s no going back now to high volume footfall and there’s 20+ towns/smaller cities in the midlands & the North in a similar boat. Reasons range from online sales/home deliveries, covid, Brexit, cost of living crisis plus an negativesidentity issue which Hanley has. (More so amongst locals than outsiders - or so it sometimes feels!) One idea I sent to Staffordshire & S-O-T tourism offices about a year ago was a Staffordshire 100 circular trail. (Borrowing the idea from Scotland’s north coast 500 route) Somour’s would entail tourists driving cycling running or walking an approx 100 mile route and taking in a number of optional stops such as the potteries, Uttoxeter racecourse, former Bass brewery Burton, Alton towers, Cannock Chase, Lichfield Cathedral, Drayton Manor Park, Stafford the county town, Stone canal town etc etc Yep - you’ve guessed it! - no reply!
I have lived in the area for 60 yrs A trip to Hanley used to be such a treat gorgeous shops ( Huntbatches Bratt and Dykes M and S and British home stores ) The pottery centre was full of independent stores and cafes it was such fun Now I am afraid I never venture there the last time was several years ago to drop something off at Wrenches ( an independent jewellers ) it was so sad I was shouted at by several guys on spice at 11 am It is a no go area for all my friends sadly I challenge the council to look at it again and look at free rents /rates for the independent shops and free parking to draw back people and robust policing to clear and manage the streets