Revamping Burslem, Tunstall And Stoke
Plus plans for a bamboo park, more cash to end fuel poverty, improved bus services, condolence book set up for Newcastle's late mayor and a new bubble tea shop…
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🏡 Have your Say on Stoke’s Future. A total of £6 million in government funding has been earmarked for improvements in Tunstall, Burslem and Stoke to help attract extra footfall and tap into each of the towns’ heritage - and locals have been invited to comment on how they think the money should be spent. In Tunstall, proposals include creating a public space for the town. In Burslem, it will focus on listed buildings including the Burslem School of Art and the Wedgwood Institute. In Stoke, it’s about improving the public square on South Wolfe Street to create a community space street for markets and live music events. The Burslem consultation was last weekend – but you can join Tunstall’s at the Indoor Market (07/03, 10am-4pm, 08/03, 10am-2pm) and Stoke’s at the Indoor Market (07/03, 10am-4pm, 08/03, 10am-2pm). More info here or email them.
Town pride: Burslem’s iconic clock tower. Pic: Leonardo Zorzi/Unsplash
🚌 More Buses Are Coming. Introduced as part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), services are being enhanced to reflect demand from passengers for more evening and weekend services. The new journeys include new services 500 and 501, which link Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station, Hanley Bus Station, Festival Park, Etruria Valley and Wolstanton Retail Park. Another new service, 27A, links Bentilee, Anchor Road and Longton to Trentham Lakes and Radial Park in Stoke, while service 40 has been extended on Saturdays to include the World of Wedgwood in Barlaston.
🔥 Cash to Tackle Fuel Poverty. Stoke-on-Trent is set to receive up to £7 million from the government to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes in the city. The grant will help to pay for energy efficiency improvements for home owners and private tenants in fuel poverty. Improvements, which are likely to start from June 2025, include wall and loft insulation, solar panelling and heating systems, all of which make homes warmer and reduce energy bills.
🎋 Plans for a Sustainable Bamboo Park. North Staffs organisation Brilliant Bamboo, founded by former director of Appetite Gemma Thomas, is looking for land where they can plant a small bamboo park as part of the Stoke High Street Accelerator Green Space Project. Once planted, the aim is to use the ‘parklet’ to explore sustainability, creativity and its impact on the environment. Brilliant Bamboo is also working with artist Spencer Jenkins to create a bamboo sculpture and furniture and is additionally hosting some events with Middleport Matters.
Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world
🪦 Pay Your Respects to Newcastle’s Late Mayor. A Book of Condolence has been opened in memory of the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme Councillor Barry Panter following his sudden death on 13/02 aged 75. The book will be placed in the library area on the ground floor of Castle House and is available to sign all day. All mayoral engagements have been cancelled until after the funeral, the date of which is still to be confirmed. The Union Flag outside Castle House will remain at half mast until the evening of Councillor Panter’s funeral.
🧋🎸 New Bubble Tea Shop and Music Venue for Newcastle. Hot on the heels of Keele in Town‘s opening, Newcastle's high street has received another boost with the debut of a new bubble tea shop, Boba Trent, at 3 Fogg Street last weekend (flavours include passion fruit, mango and grape). Newly refurbished live music venue The Boulevard, meanwhile, is set to open next month inside Lymelight Boulevard. Tickets for the opening night on 15/03 are available online.
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🥨 Will a Super Council for North Staffs Save Stoke-on-Trent? You wanted to know about plans to merge Stoke, Staffs Moorlands and Newcastle councils
👩🏫 Don’t Miss Staffordshire Archaeology Day: It’s on 29/03 and it’s free! Reserve your spot here for enlightening talks at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
📅 The Knot Life: did you know you can list your events for free at The Knot Life? More and more readers are doing it - get yours on too!
Unsung Heroes ⬇️
🏃♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete can run a 5km in 21 minutes.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that built a fashion career here.
👨🎨 Ian Parker: Mouth painter Ian has illustrated a kid’s book and is a full-time artist.
👩⚕️ Ruth Chambers: The retired GP won an OBE for improving health outcomes.
🥨 Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot
It was great to finally meet The Knot’s resident cartoonist, the very talented Chris Altham, last Saturday at non-profit community project Framescape, where he was hosting a free cartoon workshop. Part of the Stoke’s Open Source Creative Days, this event was a great opportunity for kids and adults alike to get in touch with their creative side. The studio was buzzing and there were some special visitors, too…
My son loved sketching cats and anime characters on the digi pad and meeting an owl and lizards from The Unconventional Menagerie, an exotic pet shop and educational centre based in Longton who joined the session. Some attendees attempted to capture the animals, while Chris was on hand to give expert guidance. As we were chatting, he wisely commented, “People think they can’t draw but they just haven’t been shown how to.” Want to book a workshop with The Knot’s cartoonist and promoter of Pottery dialect? Check out his website here and get inspired!
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ⛅️ 11° (4°) Tue ⛅️ 8° (2°) Wed 🌧️ 9° (4°) Thu 🌧️ 9° (2°) Fri ⛅️ 9° (3°)
Sat 🌧️ 8° (3°) Sun 🌧️ 8° (5°).
Sunrise 24/02 ☀️07:07 Sunset 24/02 🌅 17:38
