Wish list of key projects launched for ‘Powering Up Stoke-on-trent’
As the city council is hoping to secure government backing for a raft of schemes included in its prospectus, Phil Corrigan looks at how the Potteries will be the ‘litmus test’ for the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
COUNCIL chiefs have set out a wish list of key projects for regenerating Stoke-on-trent – including a new tram network, town centre investment and a programme for tackling long-term unemployment.
Stoke-on-trent City Council has submitted its new ‘prospectus’ to the government in the hope of establishing an agreed set of priorities, and the funding needed to deliver them.
The council says Stoke-ontrent will be the ‘litmus test’ for the Conservative government’s levelling-up agenda, which has the stated aim of boosting the fortunes of so-called left behind places like the Potteries.
The Powering Up Stoke-on-trent Prospectus sets out the challenges facing the city in four areas – transport, economic development, education and skills, and health and productivity – and lists specific projects to tackle them.
Many of the proposed schemes, such as a light rail network and regeneration of the East-west site in Hanley, have previously been discussed by the council and its partners.
But council leaders are now challenging the government to back the proposals and help ensure they actually happen in the coming years.
Other projects listed in the prospectus include:
Develop Stoke Station and the local rail network to facilitate the arrival of HS2 services through Stoke-on-trent, potentially including services from Birmingham North;
Launch hydrogen bus services in Stoke-on-trent in collaboration with Wright bus;
Agree a single Towns Fund programme for town centres such as Tunstall and Longton, allowing buildings to be restored and brought back into use;
Secure a strategic partnership deal with Homes England to deliver
‘significant’ housing growth in the city centre, Station Gateway and Longton;
Establish a new Education Challenge Area to drive up educational standards across the city, bringing the best Multi
Academy Trusts in the country to work with local schools;
Invest in a city-wide health and work programme to prevent and tackle long-term joblessness due to ill health and provide ‘intensive’ back to work support
The prospectus, which also has the backing of the city’s three MPS, is now being discussed with the government along with local businesses and partner organisations.
Council leader Abi Brown, below, said: “Before Covid-19, Stoke-on-trent was undergoing the most significant transformation in its economic fortunes it has experienced for more than 30 years.
“As we look ahead beyond the pandemic, we are determined to regain this momentum as quickly as possible.
“We need government’s support to do that. We know that over this next period there will be many national initiatives and funds to support economic recovery but we want one conversation, one shared plan.
“This work will help us forge a partnership that crosses all relevant government departments and agencies.” Deputy council leader Dan Jellyman added: “Through a new prospectus for the city and the dialogue that follows, our aim is to secure partnership and investment and set out how we need to work together, with our regional partners and partners across the city, at pace to agree with Government a single set of priority projects and interventions that are right for Stoke-on-trent, deliverable in the next few years and to which we can all commit.”
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PRIME Minister Boris Johnson visited Stoke-on-trent’s mass vaccination centre to thank staff for their hard work.
Mr Johnson toured the Tunstall facility – one of three large vaccination sites across Staffordshire – when he visited the Potteries yesterday.
More than 387,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Stoke-on-trent and Staffordshire so far. Ninetysix per cent of the area’s over-70s had received at least one dose – the highest proportion in the country.
Tracy Hall, clinical lead for Tunstall Vaccination Centre, said: “It was lovely to be visited by the Prime Minister and showcase all the work we are putting into the vaccination programme for the people of Stoke-on-trent and Staffordshire.
“During the visit I told him about some of the fantastic feedback that we have received from patients who have visited the vaccination centre.
“For some of these people coming for their vaccine is the first time they have left their home in months.
WELCOME: Tracy Hall, left, and Zara Parrish greet Mr Johnson.
VISIT: Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to staff at Tunstall Vaccination Centre.
“They are over the moon to be receiving the vaccination and to be getting one step closer to returning to some sort of normality.”
Neil Carr, chief executive of Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and senior responsible officer for the vaccination programme in Staffordshire ,said: “The visit from the Prime Minister has given a real morale boost to our staff and volunteers who have gone, and continue to go, above and beyond in our local response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Locally the uptake in the vaccine is very good and the success of the programme is credited to our workforce.
“Vaccination centres across Staffordshire are now vaccinating people in cohorts 5 and 6, which includes people aged 65 years of age and over, and all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality.
“If you fall into those cohorts please do take up the offer to receive our vaccination.
“The vaccination programme in Staffordshire is a true partnership effort and the contribution of our GPS has been significant. To date GPS have vaccinated 77 per cent of all citizens vaccinated locally.”