demolition

Despite being told they would be consulted by Stoke-on-Trent city council, licensees Jason Barlow and Sue Grocott feel they have been kept in the dark over the plans to regenerate the Lichfield Street end of Hanley. Since the council accepted an outline planning proposal back in February which would see the transformation of the dilpidated East West Precinct into a modern shopping centre, along with the demolition of the Coachmaker's Arms in the process, Jason and Sue have heard nothing, apart f

Hundreds of homes have been demolished, whilst more remain derelict, shuttered-up with painted boards in a vain attempt to make the place less like a slum, and yet the city council and Renew are still pressing on with their plans to throw people out of their homes, against their will. This week, councillors will contemplate more clearance which partner Renew favours for the scrap heap in Middleport, an area which has already seen the unpopular demise of the vicinity of Slater Street for what res

By Matt Taylor Back in March 2008, we produced a film in partnership with Junction 15 about the plight of residents in Middleport amid plans to demolish terraces in the area (see bottom of piece for link to updated version of the video). A year and a half and a public enquiry later, most of the terraces have now been pulled down, leaving behind a strangely desolate wasteland surrounded by the housing that remains. [caption id="attachment_7747" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Str

By Matt Taylor After interviewing the owner of the Hole in the Wall oatcake shop last week, and taking a look at some of the other redevelopment zones in the city, it has given me some concern about the prospects of some of the regeneration areas in Stoke. Since Renew and the city council began issuing compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in the area off Bucknall new road in Hanley, houses were covered-up with steel shutters, ‘gas-off’ was scribbled in paint on the walls of each, and residents we

By Matt Taylor In another ten days it will be two years since I first wrote about the historic Hole in the Wall oatcake shop which was threatened amid an area earmarked for demolition. [caption id="attachment_3810" align="alignright" width="266" caption="The hole in the wall oatcake shop"][/caption] In April 2007, Glenn Fowler, owner of the shop which uniquely sells the potteries speciality through the front window of a terraced house, was anxious that his business was in threat of bein

By Matt Taylor “Well at least they didn’t beat me,” said May, days before she died, “at least I didn’t have to leave my home.” “If only she knew,” says Eve. Eve Maley, after becoming high on the enemy list at Stoke City Council, has finally had to admit that she can’t go on with the fight to remain in the house in which she thought she would spend the rest of her life. Eve and the residents of 18 other properties in Eaton Street, Northwood, began a campaign to save their homes after