I would agree with many disgruntled residents that had the expected new build followed immediately after demolition, some of these areas would not be standing empty.
The main reason (not all) was that the government funding that was promised was pulled after demolition and the promised regeneration money was not forthcoming.
Many people have said why was the regeneration programme not done piecemeal with one area being cleared and built on, before moving onto the next. I personally have some sympathy with this line of thought. However, councillors are advised by the officers that they employ and the experts in certain fields that were advising them, that the sites needed to be cleared as requested by the private developers who were investing their money to rebuild the new housing.

A developer would not want to be held up by lengthy Compulsory Purchase Orders or householders holding sites up while negotiating purchase prices for their property. That all needed to be done by the council prior to developers moving onto the site.
As you will be well aware, the sites are now standing empty awaiting the housing market to pick up sufficiently to make it profitable for developers and create the interest that is needed.

With hindsight and if it had been known that the housing market would go into decline as well as the government promised money would disappear I am sure many of the houses would still be standing.

However, that would not have addressed the poorer housing, decline in housing stock and the loss of population in Stoke-on-Trent. Many cities did rebuild their housing and commerce very successfully some years ago. Fortunately for them it was prior to the recession and financial collapse of the banking system.

We are all residents of Stoke-on-Trent and want to see our city flourish and improve, and that is why I support the regeneration initiative with the hope of New Housing, New Industrial parks and New Shopping Centre in the City Centre (Hanley). It will take longer than expected but I hope our children and grandchildren reap the benefits and stay and work and live in Stoke-on-Trent.

I hope the generation of children that follows us appreciate that someone was brave enough to start the regeneration on S-o-T and bring it to the standard that other areas enjoy, rather than leaving things as they are, to wallow in their past decline and followed by further decline.

No one could deny that our city was in need of major surgery after the decline and loss of industry and population.

This is in no way a comprehensive explanation of the need for regeneration in Stoke-on-Trent but a personal view which I am sure you will allow me, along with your views and all residents of our city.

Let us all hope that our city will come back to a vibrant city that matches what other cities have to offer. I believe this cannot happen if we are not willing to accept change. Everything staying as it is is not an option that would improve Stoke-on-Trent. If the money was available I personaly would like to see many more changes and improvments made, to bring Stoke into the 21 st century. "


Cllr. Glenys Ward
City Independent Group.
Blurton East Ward
Tel. 01782 312670