Wide load causes chaos after getting stuck at lights
Toy shop owner celebrates first decade at town centre premises
A LEEK shop that specialises in vintage toys celebrates its 10th anniversary this week.
Classic Collectables Vintage Toy Shop located on Haywood Street first started out on Leek’s trestle market before moving to the present location 10 years ago.
The shop now attracts local customers and people from as far away as Holland along with visitors from all over the country.
Owner Richard Heath, who was born and still lives in the town, said: “I am celebrating 10 years of being in the town shop on November 8.
“Although trade has its ups and downs the Leek shop has done fairly well over the last few years.
“I specialise in vintage toys and attract local customers along with some from many miles away including some from abroad.
“I also sell on-line and for the last 18 months have had a unit at Congleton.
“There are not a lot of shops like this, so it attracts custom from many locations. It also brings people in to Leek.
“I have now got regular customers and one couple comes to me each year from Holland.
“I started on Leek Trestle Market for a year until I found this shop.
“Many shops have closed and several have changed hands in the town, however I am Leek born and bred and I am going to stay in the town.”
To celebrate his 10th anniversary of opening his shop, Richard is planning to offer customers a 10 per cent discount.
Richard said: “I cannot believe it is 10 years since I opened the premises.
“To celebrate it I will be offering 10 per cent off everything for three days, from Thursday, November 8 to Saturday, November 10.
“There will also be a free to enter prize draw and I will be holding toy valuations.” TRAFFIC chaos hit Leek town centre last Thursday after a large load failed to get through the traffic lights and the staggered pedestrian crossing area in Haywood Street.
The vehicle carrying the load – a large metal silo – was one of two in a convoy heading for Buxton. The convoy was being escorted by police and highways officers.
It became stuck at the Haywood Street traffic lights just after 2pm.
The load caused congestion on surrounding routes including Broad Street, Ball Haye Street and Compton.
The load was reversed from the traffic lights and then travelled up Leonard Street into the bus station before heading down Ball Haye Street and up Buxton Road onto the A53 out towards Derbyshire. It had cleared the town centre by 3.30pm.
County, district and town councillor Charlotte Atkins said: “Clearly a lorry carrying a load that big should never have been driven through the centre of Leek. But it does raise questions about the suitability of the staggered crossing in Haywood Street.
“It is not improving traffic flow. I am also concerned about how safe it is after a local resident sustained a nasty wrist injury as a result of falling at the crossing. I have raised my concerns with county highways.”