News Updates 2016
January
An application 59135/AD for new signage has been lodged which suggests that the name of the Noah's Ark could change to the Hartshill Tavern.
Two planning applications 1. 59219/FUL for 300 student units on the former Irish Centre in North Street has been lodged. This is a renewed application by a different developer to the one made previously. 2. 59223/FUL for 1357 student units on the former Minton Hollins factory site in North Street (at the rear of the existing Minton Hollins building on Shelton Old Road which is not included in the development. Details of the plans can be found at stoke.gov.uk/planning by quoting the above references. Comments and objections can be made up to and including 16 February.
The previous application for the former Irish Centre caused a deal of controversy with concerns about access, parking, refuse collection,impact on the Church and on the St Dominic's Care Home.
A renewed application for a premises licence to open a micro pub in the former Cafe Divine has been made. This appears to be called Sanctuary and will be open from 10 am to 11pm and will feature live music on weekdays from 6pm to 11pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 11pm. The original application did not, as far as I am aware, feature live music, which if it is amplified is sure to cause complaint as did the previous application, with objections to access for deliveries affecting Ashwell Road and to the impact of noise and disturbance to neighbouring residents. The original application was granted but not continued with. Comments in writing to Licensing Services Stoke-on-Trent City Council Town Hall Albion Street Hanley ST1 1XP by 19 February 2016 or by e-mailing hcp.licensing@stoke.gov.uk.
A meeting has been between First Bus, Councillor Pender and a local resident regarding Service 25 and its impact on The Avenue and Albany Road. Complaints were raised about the use of double decker buses, the noise caused by them and the lack of passengers at most times of the day to justify their use. A further meeting involving both Councillor Pender and Councillor Conteh will follow.
February
Planning Application 58753/FUL Royal Stoke University Hospital for the new building at the front of the main entrance atrium has been approved. This will see a retail development and administrative offices which will free up space for an increase in bed space.
IPS who occupy part of the former Diamond Clay site are moving their business to a new site. This will presumably allow for the demolition of existing buildings prior to the expected housing development.
The deadline for comments/objections to the Student Unit Developments on North Street 59219/FUL Former Irish Centre (300 units) and 59223/FUL Former Minton Tile Factory (not including frontage building on Shelton Old Road (1357 units) is 29 February.
There is to be a Respect Day for Hartshill (Hartshill and Basford ward) on Wednesday 9 March with 10 free skips - suggestions for their location are welcomed. Possibly 5 on each side of Hartshill Road? The skips will be located as follows: Cummings Street (Osborne Road); Stanley Road (opposite Claridge Road);Lansdowne Road/Victoria Street; Stoke Old Road (Car Park); Palmer's Green; Riseley Road; Coronation Road; Albany Road (below traffic lights); Longfield Road; Ashlands Road. The locations have been chosen by the Council.
The Public Meeting is on Monday 15 February starting at 7.30pm in the Nadin Theatre (ground floor) of the North Staffs Medical Institute - there will be a raffle for Association funds. The Report is published on the Meetings page.
We are told that the name of the Noah's Ark will be retained. There was the possibility that on re-opening the pub would be re-named.
Should the Licensing application for the micro-pub in the former Cafe Divine be approved the reference to live music will be mainly acoustic and will be folk music. The premises would likely be open in May. Initially it is likely to open from the afternoon.
Mark Hackett has resigned as Chief Executive of the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust with immediate effect. Whether or not this makes any difference to their options with regard to the placement of additional car parks is impossible to say. Information from our contact at the Hospital says it should not.
March
The license application to open a micro-pub in the former Cafe Divine premises has been approved and the owner hopes to open by the end of May.
With regard to the applications to build student accommodation in North Street - there have been objections from the Victorian Society and Highways for the Irish Centre, though the Victorian Society seems to want to retain the original school building. An objection from the Environment Agency is concerned with the lack of a flood risk assessment on the Minton Hollins site.
The Planning Officer responsible for overseeing the application for the student units development on North Street is setting up a public meeting at which residents can put their comments to the architects of the development.
Councillor Pender has put in the following requests for Highways work - resurfacing of The Avenue from Hartshill Road to Albany Road and the unblocking of grids on the corner of Longfield Road and Albany Road and The Avenue and Ashlands Road, which both cause flooding whenever it rains. In addition at the former site the road needs repair. This work should be done by the end of March so please check it out. In addition we are told that resurfacing of The Avenue from Hartshill Road to the Albany Road traffic lights will take place in the next financial year (2016-17).
Resurfacing of Hartshill Road from Ashwell Road to Stoke Old Road from Monday 21 March to Friday 25 March 9.30am to 3.30pm. No parking available by Cottage Laundry, Old House at Home and Cafe Artisan.
The date for the public meeting for the North Street student development is Tuesday 12 April from 6pm to 8pm and will be held at Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains Catholic Church, Hartshill Road by kind permission of Father Michael Miners.
Hartshill and Harpfields Residents' Association is now on Twitter.
The re-surfacing of The Avenue mentioned above is promised for this financial year 2016-17. In the meantime the pothole which has appeared in the middle of the road opposite no. 21 needs immediate attention. It had been only just filled but has broken up again and the pieces can be seen on the pavement alongside.
About 20 people attended the Community Clinic to meet the architects of the student development in North Street. We met in a room at the Church of Our Lady thanks to the kindness of Father Miners and many points in opposition were raised and argued over. The feelings of the neighbours were well established and there was particular displeasure expressed over the apparent acquiescence of Highways in not placing more emphasis on the problems of access, bearing in mind that North Street can only be entered from Shelton Old Road, which is particularly congested at peak times and whenever there are accidents on the A500 and M6. A further meeting at the Civic Centre which involved Highways considered what might be done about parking restrictions on North Street should problems arise.
A draft copy of the Summer newsletter has been uploaded to the website, together with the advertisments from local businesses which provide the finance for the Newsletter. Please support them and all businesses in Hartshill.
May
Two large potholes, one in Thornburrow Drive and one in The Avenue have been reported to Highways today - 3 May - the reference numbers are C16110389 and C16110390. A good repair of the one in The Avenue was made the same day. The pothole in Thornburrow Drive has been repaired too.
The Liaison Meeting with the Hospital Trust revealed that a draft report on the possibility on the use of the Ambulance Station site was to hand and would be discussed at a meeting with local councillors prior to it being shown to the public at the promised engagement meeting. This was also mentioned at the PACT meeting. The meeting with councillors is on 26 May and the public engagement is likely to take place in July. The Ambulance Station site should it prove suitable is unlikely to be available for at least a year and the the two other options previously mentioned - COPD and the Royal Stoke site itself are still under consideration. The Hospital have negotiated a discounted fare deal for employees with First Bus for Service 25 to encourage the use of public transport for work journeys rather than using their cars.
The Residents' Association Public Meeting takes place tomorrow Monday 16 May at the North Staffs Medical Institute Hartshill Road (Nadin Theatre ground floor) starting at 7.30pm and will include a raffle for Association funds. The Report of the Meeting is now available on the website.
Sentinel news item 19 May - A site has been chosen for a new community ambulance at Festival Park (Forge Lane near the Vodaphone building and a planning application will follow. It is hoped that the facility will be ready by Spring 2017. This will allow the existing ambulance station in Hilton Road to be sold and re-developed, hopefully as a multi-storey car park for the Royal Stoke Hospital.
June
Now that the fine weather is here there will be campers on Hartshill Park - could Park users keep a eye on them - one way to contact Hartshill Police if you feel their assistance is necessary or there has been obvious damage (fires etc) and those likely to be responsible are still there is to send a message (not a tweet) on Twitter or by phoning 101. Do not attempt to tackle them yourself. You can also contact the City Council's Countryside Management Team who are responsible for the upkeep of the Park on 01782 331889.
Friends of Hartshill Park have made an application to the Tesco Bags of Help scheme to improve the entrance to the Park by Tesco Express. You can see the details on the Friends facebook page at www.facebook/FriendsofHartshillPark and on the Friends blog at friendsofhartshillpark.wordpress.com.
July
Newsletters are now being delivered in advance of the Public Meeting which takes place on Monday 15 August - 7.30pm North Staffs Medical Institute - Nadin Theatre - ground floor.
August
Highways will be reconstructing the junction at The Avenue and Albany Road starting 15 August for two weeks - work will take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm. The works will involve the The Avenue from the junction to Fosbrooke Place/Wayside Grove and Albany Road to Albany Grove. Albany Road will be closed from Stowell Green to the junction and access to Albany Road from Hartshill Road to Stowell Green will be to frontages only. Temporary three-way traffic lights will be in operation. Councillor Pender is pursuing the matter of when that part of The Avenue towards Hartshill Road not yet re-surfaced will be done.
26 August Sanctuary - the Hartshill micro pub at 495 Hartshill Road (former Cafe Divine) opens today at 3pm.
October
1/2 October A traveller parked in Kingscroft by the Mortuary left flytipping there on departure. This was reported to Environmental Crime and quickly removed.
3 October The Crusty Cob sandwich shop opened today at 443 Hartshill Road (next to Hartshill Chippy). Caroline Mills and her daughter Charlotte welcome customers. Open Tuesday - Saturday 7.30am to 2.30pm Sunday 7.30am -12.30pm.
6 October Visited The Oddity Box 460 Hartshill Road to chat with owner Darren Gilbert who has just opened his shop, having moved from London Road in Stoke. The Oddity Box sells Fantasy ornaments and artwork, Dreamcatchers as well as incense sticks and cones.
12 October Work has started on the demolition of the former Diamond Clay site prior to the building of the houses there. Demolition will take about six months.
18 October Tristram Hunt MP and Councillor Pender are holding a Community Discussion event on Friday 21 November at the Minton Centre from 10am regarding the coming Brexit negotiations and what people expect from them.
24 October The Winter Newsletter 2016 and advertisements is now available online at www.hartshillandharpfieldsra.org. The Annual General Meeting to review the year, plan for next year and elect a Committee for the following 12 months takes place at the North Staffs Medical Institute (Nadin Theatre) on Monday 21 November at 7.30pm.
25 October The failed lights on the pedestrian crossing by Hartshill Church have been reported for a second time.
27 October The Limes Allotments Association wish to bring to residents' attention the fact that there are plots available for cultivation at the site in Thornburrow Drive.
January
An application 59135/AD for new signage has been lodged which suggests that the name of the Noah's Ark could change to the Hartshill Tavern.
Two planning applications 1. 59219/FUL for 300 student units on the former Irish Centre in North Street has been lodged. This is a renewed application by a different developer to the one made previously. 2. 59223/FUL for 1357 student units on the former Minton Hollins factory site in North Street (at the rear of the existing Minton Hollins building on Shelton Old Road which is not included in the development. Details of the plans can be found at stoke.gov.uk/planning by quoting the above references. Comments and objections can be made up to and including 16 February.
The previous application for the former Irish Centre caused a deal of controversy with concerns about access, parking, refuse collection,impact on the Church and on the St Dominic's Care Home.
A renewed application for a premises licence to open a micro pub in the former Cafe Divine has been made. This appears to be called Sanctuary and will be open from 10 am to 11pm and will feature live music on weekdays from 6pm to 11pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 11pm. The original application did not, as far as I am aware, feature live music, which if it is amplified is sure to cause complaint as did the previous application, with objections to access for deliveries affecting Ashwell Road and to the impact of noise and disturbance to neighbouring residents. The original application was granted but not continued with. Comments in writing to Licensing Services Stoke-on-Trent City Council Town Hall Albion Street Hanley ST1 1XP by 19 February 2016 or by e-mailing hcp.licensing@stoke.gov.uk.
A meeting has been between First Bus, Councillor Pender and a local resident regarding Service 25 and its impact on The Avenue and Albany Road. Complaints were raised about the use of double decker buses, the noise caused by them and the lack of passengers at most times of the day to justify their use. A further meeting involving both Councillor Pender and Councillor Conteh will follow.
February
Planning Application 58753/FUL Royal Stoke University Hospital for the new building at the front of the main entrance atrium has been approved. This will see a retail development and administrative offices which will free up space for an increase in bed space.
IPS who occupy part of the former Diamond Clay site are moving their business to a new site. This will presumably allow for the demolition of existing buildings prior to the expected housing development.
The deadline for comments/objections to the Student Unit Developments on North Street 59219/FUL Former Irish Centre (300 units) and 59223/FUL Former Minton Tile Factory (not including frontage building on Shelton Old Road (1357 units) is 29 February.
There is to be a Respect Day for Hartshill (Hartshill and Basford ward) on Wednesday 9 March with 10 free skips - suggestions for their location are welcomed. Possibly 5 on each side of Hartshill Road? The skips will be located as follows: Cummings Street (Osborne Road); Stanley Road (opposite Claridge Road);Lansdowne Road/Victoria Street; Stoke Old Road (Car Park); Palmer's Green; Riseley Road; Coronation Road; Albany Road (below traffic lights); Longfield Road; Ashlands Road. The locations have been chosen by the Council.
The Public Meeting is on Monday 15 February starting at 7.30pm in the Nadin Theatre (ground floor) of the North Staffs Medical Institute - there will be a raffle for Association funds. The Report is published on the Meetings page.
We are told that the name of the Noah's Ark will be retained. There was the possibility that on re-opening the pub would be re-named.
Should the Licensing application for the micro-pub in the former Cafe Divine be approved the reference to live music will be mainly acoustic and will be folk music. The premises would likely be open in May. Initially it is likely to open from the afternoon.
Mark Hackett has resigned as Chief Executive of the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust with immediate effect. Whether or not this makes any difference to their options with regard to the placement of additional car parks is impossible to say. Information from our contact at the Hospital says it should not.
March
The license application to open a micro-pub in the former Cafe Divine premises has been approved and the owner hopes to open by the end of May.
With regard to the applications to build student accommodation in North Street - there have been objections from the Victorian Society and Highways for the Irish Centre, though the Victorian Society seems to want to retain the original school building. An objection from the Environment Agency is concerned with the lack of a flood risk assessment on the Minton Hollins site.
The Planning Officer responsible for overseeing the application for the student units development on North Street is setting up a public meeting at which residents can put their comments to the architects of the development.
Councillor Pender has put in the following requests for Highways work - resurfacing of The Avenue from Hartshill Road to Albany Road and the unblocking of grids on the corner of Longfield Road and Albany Road and The Avenue and Ashlands Road, which both cause flooding whenever it rains. In addition at the former site the road needs repair. This work should be done by the end of March so please check it out. In addition we are told that resurfacing of The Avenue from Hartshill Road to the Albany Road traffic lights will take place in the next financial year (2016-17).
Resurfacing of Hartshill Road from Ashwell Road to Stoke Old Road from Monday 21 March to Friday 25 March 9.30am to 3.30pm. No parking available by Cottage Laundry, Old House at Home and Cafe Artisan.
The date for the public meeting for the North Street student development is Tuesday 12 April from 6pm to 8pm and will be held at Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains Catholic Church, Hartshill Road by kind permission of Father Michael Miners.
Hartshill and Harpfields Residents' Association is now on Twitter.
The re-surfacing of The Avenue mentioned above is promised for this financial year 2016-17. In the meantime the pothole which has appeared in the middle of the road opposite no. 21 needs immediate attention. It had been only just filled but has broken up again and the pieces can be seen on the pavement alongside.
About 20 people attended the Community Clinic to meet the architects of the student development in North Street. We met in a room at the Church of Our Lady thanks to the kindness of Father Miners and many points in opposition were raised and argued over. The feelings of the neighbours were well established and there was particular displeasure expressed over the apparent acquiescence of Highways in not placing more emphasis on the problems of access, bearing in mind that North Street can only be entered from Shelton Old Road, which is particularly congested at peak times and whenever there are accidents on the A500 and M6. A further meeting at the Civic Centre which involved Highways considered what might be done about parking restrictions on North Street should problems arise.
A draft copy of the Summer newsletter has been uploaded to the website, together with the advertisments from local businesses which provide the finance for the Newsletter. Please support them and all businesses in Hartshill.
May
Two large potholes, one in Thornburrow Drive and one in The Avenue have been reported to Highways today - 3 May - the reference numbers are C16110389 and C16110390. A good repair of the one in The Avenue was made the same day. The pothole in Thornburrow Drive has been repaired too.
The Liaison Meeting with the Hospital Trust revealed that a draft report on the possibility on the use of the Ambulance Station site was to hand and would be discussed at a meeting with local councillors prior to it being shown to the public at the promised engagement meeting. This was also mentioned at the PACT meeting. The meeting with councillors is on 26 May and the public engagement is likely to take place in July. The Ambulance Station site should it prove suitable is unlikely to be available for at least a year and the the two other options previously mentioned - COPD and the Royal Stoke site itself are still under consideration. The Hospital have negotiated a discounted fare deal for employees with First Bus for Service 25 to encourage the use of public transport for work journeys rather than using their cars.
The Residents' Association Public Meeting takes place tomorrow Monday 16 May at the North Staffs Medical Institute Hartshill Road (Nadin Theatre ground floor) starting at 7.30pm and will include a raffle for Association funds. The Report of the Meeting is now available on the website.
Sentinel news item 19 May - A site has been chosen for a new community ambulance at Festival Park (Forge Lane near the Vodaphone building and a planning application will follow. It is hoped that the facility will be ready by Spring 2017. This will allow the existing ambulance station in Hilton Road to be sold and re-developed, hopefully as a multi-storey car park for the Royal Stoke Hospital.
June
Now that the fine weather is here there will be campers on Hartshill Park - could Park users keep a eye on them - one way to contact Hartshill Police if you feel their assistance is necessary or there has been obvious damage (fires etc) and those likely to be responsible are still there is to send a message (not a tweet) on Twitter or by phoning 101. Do not attempt to tackle them yourself. You can also contact the City Council's Countryside Management Team who are responsible for the upkeep of the Park on 01782 331889.
Friends of Hartshill Park have made an application to the Tesco Bags of Help scheme to improve the entrance to the Park by Tesco Express. You can see the details on the Friends facebook page at www.facebook/FriendsofHartshillPark and on the Friends blog at friendsofhartshillpark.wordpress.com.
July
Newsletters are now being delivered in advance of the Public Meeting which takes place on Monday 15 August - 7.30pm North Staffs Medical Institute - Nadin Theatre - ground floor.
August
Highways will be reconstructing the junction at The Avenue and Albany Road starting 15 August for two weeks - work will take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm. The works will involve the The Avenue from the junction to Fosbrooke Place/Wayside Grove and Albany Road to Albany Grove. Albany Road will be closed from Stowell Green to the junction and access to Albany Road from Hartshill Road to Stowell Green will be to frontages only. Temporary three-way traffic lights will be in operation. Councillor Pender is pursuing the matter of when that part of The Avenue towards Hartshill Road not yet re-surfaced will be done.
26 August Sanctuary - the Hartshill micro pub at 495 Hartshill Road (former Cafe Divine) opens today at 3pm.
October
1/2 October A traveller parked in Kingscroft by the Mortuary left flytipping there on departure. This was reported to Environmental Crime and quickly removed.
3 October The Crusty Cob sandwich shop opened today at 443 Hartshill Road (next to Hartshill Chippy). Caroline Mills and her daughter Charlotte welcome customers. Open Tuesday - Saturday 7.30am to 2.30pm Sunday 7.30am -12.30pm.
6 October Visited The Oddity Box 460 Hartshill Road to chat with owner Darren Gilbert who has just opened his shop, having moved from London Road in Stoke. The Oddity Box sells Fantasy ornaments and artwork, Dreamcatchers as well as incense sticks and cones.
12 October Work has started on the demolition of the former Diamond Clay site prior to the building of the houses there. Demolition will take about six months.
18 October Tristram Hunt MP and Councillor Pender are holding a Community Discussion event on Friday 21 November at the Minton Centre from 10am regarding the coming Brexit negotiations and what people expect from them.
24 October The Winter Newsletter 2016 and advertisements is now available online at www.hartshillandharpfieldsra.org. The Annual General Meeting to review the year, plan for next year and elect a Committee for the following 12 months takes place at the North Staffs Medical Institute (Nadin Theatre) on Monday 21 November at 7.30pm.
25 October The failed lights on the pedestrian crossing by Hartshill Church have been reported for a second time.
27 October The Limes Allotments Association wish to bring to residents' attention the fact that there are plots available for cultivation at the site in Thornburrow Drive.
4 November The Council will be sending a gully emptier to drain the water issuing from the utility cover on Hartshill Road by Akash and will attempt to find were the water is coming from. Severn-Trent maintain it is not from their pipes.
4 November North Street Student Developments 59219/FUL and 59223/FUL these applications are to go before the Planning Committee - Development Management Committee on Wednesday 9 November (10 am). The Reports, which recommend approval, subject to many conditions, can be read at stoke.gov.uk under Council and Democracy - Agendas Minutes and Reports - Planning Committee - Development Management - Agenda 9 November - Items 4 and 5.
8 November Just done an interview with Radio Stoke re North Street Student Developments. Should be included in news bulletins.
9 November North Street Student Units Development application approved unanimously by Planning - Development Management Committee this morning. First development will be 300 units on former Irish Centre.
17 November The Agenda and the Report of the Chair are now available online on the Committee page of the website and will be placed on the noticeboard today.
20 November The switch-on of the HAHO Christmas lights takes place today at 4.30pm by the roundabout near the Newcastle boundary.
20 November A correction to an item in the Newsletter - Sanctuary Ale House is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 3pm to 10pm (not 11pm).
21 November The report of the Hospital Liaison sub-committee Meeting on 9 November which will be discussed at the Residents' Association Annual General Meeting this evening (7.30pm North Staffs Medical Institute) has been uploaded to the website on the Constitution and Committee page - Committee reports sub page - Hospital Liaison.
5 December The Report of the Public Meeting is now available on line on the 2016 Reports sub page under the heading Constitution and Committee page.
14 December The election of officers of the Residents' Association took place at last nigh's Committee Meeting as follows: Chair - Kay Webster; Vice-Chair - Chris Munday; Secretary - Reg Edwards; Treasurer John Salmon. Please contact the Association through the Secretary - phone 01782 634755 or 07415227535 or email contactus.hhra.sot@gmail.com or via the contact form on this website.
4 November North Street Student Developments 59219/FUL and 59223/FUL these applications are to go before the Planning Committee - Development Management Committee on Wednesday 9 November (10 am). The Reports, which recommend approval, subject to many conditions, can be read at stoke.gov.uk under Council and Democracy - Agendas Minutes and Reports - Planning Committee - Development Management - Agenda 9 November - Items 4 and 5.
8 November Just done an interview with Radio Stoke re North Street Student Developments. Should be included in news bulletins.
9 November North Street Student Units Development application approved unanimously by Planning - Development Management Committee this morning. First development will be 300 units on former Irish Centre.
17 November The Agenda and the Report of the Chair are now available online on the Committee page of the website and will be placed on the noticeboard today.
20 November The switch-on of the HAHO Christmas lights takes place today at 4.30pm by the roundabout near the Newcastle boundary.
20 November A correction to an item in the Newsletter - Sanctuary Ale House is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 3pm to 10pm (not 11pm).
21 November The report of the Hospital Liaison sub-committee Meeting on 9 November which will be discussed at the Residents' Association Annual General Meeting this evening (7.30pm North Staffs Medical Institute) has been uploaded to the website on the Constitution and Committee page - Committee reports sub page - Hospital Liaison.
5 December The Report of the Public Meeting is now available on line on the 2016 Reports sub page under the heading Constitution and Committee page.
14 December The election of officers of the Residents' Association took place at last nigh's Committee Meeting as follows: Chair - Kay Webster; Vice-Chair - Chris Munday; Secretary - Reg Edwards; Treasurer John Salmon. Please contact the Association through the Secretary - phone 01782 634755 or 07415227535 or email contactus.hhra.sot@gmail.com or via the contact form on this website.
