Website:
Planning Applications
(View these at Stoke.gov.uk/planning)
Ritchies Catering Warehouse.
The application to demolish the warehouse and replace it with six semi-detached houses and a retail unit at the front was approved on 24 September.
Turkish Delight
The application to extend the opening hours was refused on 25 September.
Hygan Ltd. Kingscroft - 55774/FUL
Erection of storage and workshop building.
Former HSS Hire Shop 55639/FUL
A renewed application for a tyre fitting/MOT centre has been made, slightly amended, but still likely to cause noise and a loss of privacy to some residents of Vicarage Road.
Hospital Developments
City General Update – The last major demolitions, the “Nines” block will take place over the next few weeks, paving the way for the last Pay and Display car parks to be built by the summer of 2014, creating 300 more spaces. New Pay and Display tariffs come into force on 1 November. There are a number of improved exemptions and concessions available for patients and visitors from these tariffs. Exemption permits are available from the Renal Unit for dialysis patients and carer escorts. They are also available from the Cancer Centre, Critical Care Unit, High Dependency Unit (including Intensive Care), or from other specialist clinical areas, providing the patient’s stay is expected to be two weeks or more. In all cases only one pass may be issued per patient. Passes are also available from Maternity, for the named partner of a woman in labour. They can be used to park in any “Pay and Display” area within the site.
Shuttle Buses - A decision has been made to reduce the number of buses which operate between the sites by replacing them with slightly larger buses. It is expected that once the new car parks at the City General are complete by the summer of 2014, the number of buses will further decrease.
Royal Infirmary – New entrance gates have been installed to improve security. The entrance from Princes Road is locked permanently. It is anticipated that the marketing of the site will commence in 2014,
COPD Car Park – The new car park should be ready by December. A test of lighting to satisfy residents’ complaints took place in late October.
Friends of Hartshill Park
The Friends of Hartshill Park have held three events recently as part of the Community Spaces Sustainability Grant. The first on 6 September was a Bat Walk. A talk by Suzanne Wykes, the City Ecologist explained how bats identify prey by echo location which can be heard by using a bat detector on certain frequencies. Bats feed at night because there is less chance that they themselves will fall prey to bird predators. Bats roost in colonies in buildings wherever there is the smallest entrance. They feed several times a night and it is estimated that they require to catch 3,000 insects every night while they are active. We found the best results by the Laundry Pond, where we were able to locate a number of bats, both visually and audibly. It was explained that the first time bats come out to feed they will use areas where there is tree cover as protection and only later venture into more open areas.
The other two events involved bulb planting, first on the evening of 19 September, when Beavers and Scouts from the Hartshill Scout Group planted 200 snowdrop bulbs in the Convent Pools area as part of their 100 hours of community service to celebrate their Centenary. On the following Wednesday morning 28 pupils from Harpfield Primary Academy braved the weather and planted 200 wild daffodil bulbs, as well as Periwinkles and Cuckoo Pint. The children then wrote letters of thanks – examples of which can be found on the Friends of Hartshill Park blog at friendsofhartshillpark.wordpress.com.
PACT
(Partners and Communities Together)
Open meetings are held monthly on Mondays at the North Staffs Conference Centre, beginning at 6.45pm and all residents are welcome. Those attending include neighbourhood Police Officers, Ward Councillors and Council Officers who contribute to the debate, give updates and answer questions. At the December meeting local police officer PC Terry Dunn will be congratulated on receiving the Staffordshire Police Community Police Officer of the Year. He is particularly commended for his ability to defuse difficult situations. The October meeting was addressed by John van de Laarschot who answered questions about prosecutions for flytipping and litter and strategies for preventing the same; the need for the Council to improve the currently unadopted alleyways and the proposed Central Business District in Hanley and its effect on the sustainability and distinct identity of the other towns in the City.
HAHO
(Hartshill and Harpfields Occasions)
Community Events
Details of events can be found on the Residents’ Association website.
In 2014, apart from the usual events which have featured in previous years, Community Games; the Midsummer Fair; Canine Capers and the Quizzes, we have planned to hold the Hartshill International event on Saturday 3 May. This event will celebrate the diversity of cultures of residents of Hartshill – Food; Music; Dance and Art and Crafts.
We shall also be commemorating the outbreak of World War One and to this end we shall be setting up a History sub-group to research the impact that the War had on Hartshill and find out as much as possible about those men named on the War Memorial in Hartshill churchyard and also those buried in Hartshill Cemetery, some of whom would have died of wounds in the War Hospital at the City General Hospital, but others who died of wounds at home after hostilities had ended. .
If anyone knows of any family member whose name appears on the War Memorial or who is buried in one of graves in Hartshill Cemetery or has knowledge of any family involvement in the War, we would be pleased to hear from them. Of particular interest would be photographs or letters or any memorabilia which could be copied or loaned for an exhibition in August to coincide with the outbreak of the War.
If anyone would like to join the History Group to help in the research, again we would be delighted to welcome them.
Hartshill Medical Centre
The minutes of the Patient Group are now both on-line and on the Notice Board in Reception. If there are any issues you would like to be discussed please contact either Malcolm Woodward (Chairman) or Kay Webster (Secretary)
We have been asked to bring to the attention of all patients who use the Centre that there are major safety concerns about the way that the car-park is being used. The entrance to the car-park is still being used as an exit by some people – in spite of the 'No Exit ' signs and people are also reversing this way across the entrance route. People are also parking on the pavement in Ashwell Road just outside the entrance. Bollards on the pavement and a 'non return' barrier at the entrance are being considered as a preventative. Meantime please exit the car park via the barrier leading to Hartshill Road using a free token available from Reception. Thank you for your cooperation.
Dr Andrew Dent retired on 31 October after 25 years with the Practice. Best wishes from HHRA for the future. He will be continuing his connection with Stoke City as Club Doctor.
Hilton House
Lovett Care opened Hilton House for residential and respite care for 40 residents on 2 October. Under a contract with UHNS, it will also cater for those discharged from hospital but as yet unable to return home.