NEW HOMES HOPES AS ‘FIRE-HIT, DIRTY’ LAND IS BOUGHT BEFORE AUCTION
Neighbours say ex-pottery factory site had become trouble magnet
FAMILIES have welcomed the sale of a vacant plot of land they say had become a magnet for anti-social, drug dealing and constant fires.
The site off Hanley’s Commercial Road – which once hosted a sprawling pottery factory – has stood unused for several years.
The 1.89-acre site had been listed to go under the hammer at a Butters John Bee auction this month.
However an update on the listing said it had sold before the auction – for which it had a guide price of £460,000.
The catalogue described it as a residential development site which was part cleared and enjoyed a canal running by it.
However, no current planning permission is in place for the land.
It represents a fresh chapter in the history of a site which once housed the Lord Nelson Works, above.
The first owner, Elijah Cotton, moved in to the canalside site in 1885 – and it went on to become the ‘largest manufacturer of jugs in the world’.
Families living in Commercial Road hope the site is overhauled soon – after revealing the various issues they have experienced.
One neighbour says police and firefighters have been called out about eight times in as many weeks.
Asma Nabeel, aged 40, said: “Random kids are coming and setting fires. We’re happy if they build something here.
“Our view will go but it is better than having to see fire all the time – and it is dirty as well.”
Fellow resident Rupert Scott welcomed the idea of homes – but questioned whether people can afford properties at the moment.
The 60-year-old said: “I think it will help develop the area and when the houses are built people will feel happy living in that sort of environment.
“What they have done is develop the area and it is a completely different place to what it was 18 months ago. “The problem is people can’t afford to buy a house.
We are not in London or Manchester or a place where money is flowing.
Meanwhile, Adam Lees said he was told the land would be built on when he bought his house about four years ago.
The 29-year-old said: “Kids are always setting fires and drug addicts live in the building.”
And Joan Smith, also of Commercial Road, is keen to see the site transformed – and wants the remaining derelict buildings cleared.
The 65-year-old said: “The buildings want knocking down – they’re just full of drug dealers and people on drugs.
“There’s been loads of fires. We have had the police and fire service here about eight times in the last eight to 10 weeks. It gets fenced off but they break it down – and when there’s a padlock they cut the locks off.”
“It would be good to have houses on it because it is devaluing our properties as it is now. It’s going to make the area better, I’m sure.”
No details of the buyer of the land have been revealed yet.