Our City Issue 03

Western Edition

Our City ISSUE 3: FEBRUARY 2008

Your council

tax

free

for one year!

Robbie’s charity roadshow comes to Hanley PAGE SEVEN

that’s the prize in our great new competition SEE PAGE TWO

2

Our City F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8

Give your views and win your

council tax

ur City

WELCOME to the third issue of Our City – which gives everyone who lives in Stoke-on-Trent the chance to win their council tax FREE for one year in our fantastic easy-to-enter competition.

The winner will have a credit for his or her council tax for 12 months or, if the successful reader does not pay council tax, he or she will receive the cash equivalent, which could be up to £2,523.

For your opportunity to scoop this great prize all you have to do is answer a simple question – and briefly give us your views of the magazine. Our City is for everyone in Stoke-on-Trent – published by key strategic partners including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust, Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue.

It is your magazine – so it is vital we get your feedback and ideas to shape the future content of the publication. That is why we are offering this special one-off prize to encourage the best possible response. The competition question – the answer to which can be found in the magazine – is: What is the name of the new public/private sector joint venture company that is now responsible for the maintenance of city council homes and public buildings in Stoke-on-Trent?

Send your entries – along with your views on Our City – to Council Tax Competition, FREEPOST, Our City, or email ourcity@stoke.gov.uk by Friday March 28th.

The first correct entry drawn out of the hat wins the prize. The Editor’s decision is final and the winner will be announced in the next issue of Our City.

You may well have noticed that the city council has a bright new logo, after a design competition attracted more than 350 entries from people aged between three and 90. Elected Mayor Mark Meredith commented that the time spent judging the designs was “one of the most pleasant duties I have had in office.”

The winning entry – which gained more than half of the votes – was from 30-year-old graphic designer David Clowes of Birches Head whose eyecatching design will be part of the city’s brand for an exciting new era.

Meanwhile, the city council sponsored a highprofile employment fair for the first time at Hanley’s Quality Hotel – and were delighted with the response. More than 2,000 job hunters turned up at the Signal Radio Get A Job Day and staff representing all city council departments were on hand to talk to prospective recruits about 80 current vacancies and local authority careers in general. As a result there has been a fresh wave of applications and interest.

In opening the event, Mayor Meredith pointed out the city council has a responsibility as the area’s biggest employer to put on show what we have on offer. To find out more today visit our new website at www.stoke.gov.uk/jobs or telephone 238189.

COVER PICTURE: Marketing Communications Officer Andrea Chapman promotes the Win Your Council Tax competition.

Andrea’s hair was by Lee Birks of Shades, Harriseahead, and make-up

by Becky of Benefit San Francisco at Debenhams, Hanley.

Breastfeeding support worker Dave Jones with his baby son James.

The breastfeeding advice service for parents where

Dad’s

the word NEW dad Dave Jones has become parenting charity Mum2Mum’s first male breastfeeding support worker.

The 24-year-old from Abbey Hulton was inspired to take up the voluntary position after completing a parenting course with the charity Mum2Mum. Dave knew little about breastfeeding before the birth of his son James, now seven months old.

But completing the Mum2Mum course and meeting other new parents at “baby cafes” made him determined to enlighten his fellow fathers.

He said: “Some people assume the father has

no part to play in breastfeeding, but both the mother and baby rely on his support, so he needs to know how it works and how to help the mother hold the baby in the correct position.”

It can cause cracked nipples, bruises, bleeding and sores. But Dave is convinced that, when administered properly, breast is always best.

He said: “Men can become confused about it.

New dads are often embarrassed about breastfeeding, so hopefully I can help them learn about the practice and its health benefits.” ● For further information about Mum2Mum please telephone 01782 425894.

FEBRUARY 2008

Our City

3

Drug dealers are running ‘scared’ RUG dealers are “scared” to come to Stoke-on-Trent because they fear they will be arrested and convicted as part of Operation Nemesis.

D

Latest police figures also show that reported incidents of crime were down by 12 per cent following the first phase of the biggest ever drugs raid in the city. It meant that between August and November 2007, Staffordshire Police recorded 100 less incidents a day in the aftermath of the raids.

Residents are also feeling safer with more than 73 per cent saying they feel like integrated members of their community, following the multi-agency initiative.

The figures were released by Staffordshire Police following the third phase of Operation Nemesis in January when 350 police officers carried out dawn raids on more than 20 targeted properties city-wide.

Police Commander Chief Superintendent Jane Sawyers said: “The figures show that Operation Nemesis is doing exactly what it set out to do: reduce drug crime, catch the criminals and reassure residents.

“We are delighted to see the impact it is having and we have intelligence to show that criminals are now scared of coming to Stoke-on-Trent in case they are caught up in

Operation Nemesis.” She added: “Justice is swift and we are working with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the court services to move the cases forward quickly.

“For instance, following the first phase of raids on September 13, eight people have already been jailed for a total of 22 years and a further 35 are remanded in custody.

Positive “Assets wise, we have seized several houses, high value cars and other items including a 60-inch plasma TV under the Proceeds of Crime Act. All money from the value of these goods will be channelled back into crime fighting.”

The knock-on effect of the battle against the dealers is the positive response it is having on the community.

Jane added: “Not only are residents feeling more assured, they are also feeling more confident to act – with 57 per cent more calls to Crimestoppers, the majority of these calls being about drugs.

“From a health point of view, more people are now accessing drug services and finding themselves on the road to rehabilitation.

This is also having a knock-on effect because less of these people then need to turn to crime to fuel their habit.”

More drug dealers are being put behind bars as Operation Nemesis rolls on.

Head-mounted video cameras will provide crucial evidence

Neighbourhood beat officer PC Scott McGrath wearing the head-mounted video camera while on patrol in Middleport.

He is pictured talking to resident Jim Cawley.

Give us your feedback on this issue of Our City by emailing ourcity@stoke.gov.uk or write to: FREEPOST Our City – next issue out April 12th

CITY police have anti social behaviour in their sights thanks to tiny, head-mounted video cameras which can record everything officers see and hear.

Each of the 14 devices, roughly the size of a golf ball, clips onto a police cap or helmet and records hours of footage to a hard drive which officers carry with them. They can start recording at any time by pressing a button linked through a wire running down their inside sleeve.

The measure aims to tackle domestic violence and anti social behaviour by gathering hard evidence against offenders.

Inspector Jim Wood, who commands the Western Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “When our officers hear reports of anti social behaviour in their area, they will be able to approach the offenders and catch incidents on camera, which may later be used as evidence when calling for Acceptable Behaviour Contracts or Anti Social Behaviour Orders against offenders.”

The footage can also be used to show the parents of young offenders what their children have been up to.

Inspector Wood added: “If officers catch vandalism or threatening behaviour on camera, then they can visit the perpetrators’ parents and play the footage to them.

“This will show that their children are not being victimised but have behaved in

a way that could lead to court orders, or worse.”

The cameras will only be used when authorised to deal with a specific problem.

Inspector Wood said: “Officers will not be filming people on every patrol they make. This is a special measure for cases in which video evidence makes all the difference.”

The cameras will protect officers too, providing evidence to contest false allegations of officer misconduct during arrests or stop and searches.

Inspector Wood said: “The cameras will add another level of transparency to the work our officers do. If complaints are made with regard to incidents that were recorded, then we will be able to submit the footage as evidence.”

Officers will film incidents in teams of two with the camera carrier bringing up the rear while his or her partner intervenes.

4 Our City

FEBRUARY 2008

TOP of the LOLLIPOPS OLLIPOP lady Joy Whiston is top of the class as far as pupils and staff at St Gregory’s RC Primary School, Longton, are concerned.

In fact Joy is so popular with the local children, their parents and teachers that she has licked the opposition to land the title of Stoke-on-Trent’s Crossing Patrol Warden of the Year.

Day in, day out, in all weathers she shepherds the children safely across busy Spring Garden Road as they make their way to and from school – and always has a cheery word and a smile.

Joy’s dedication was rewarded when she was presented with the prestigious award – a ceramic plate bearing the civic crest and a certificate – by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Bagh Ali, during a ceremony in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour.

L

Glowing

Crossing Patrol Warden of the Year Joy Whiston.

The popular warden attracted the highest number of on-line votes, and the judges also took into account the glowing comments in nominations submitted by pupils, parents and teachers to support Joy's title bid.

She has patrolled her present “patch” for almost four years, but joined the Crossing Patrol Warden service in 1999 and was at first on duty with her “lollipop” sign at two separate locations in Dresden.

The mother of three grown up daughters said: “At first it was just a part-time job with hours that suited me, but it has become much more

Pupils from St Gregory’s RC Primary School know their Lollipop Lady Joy Whiston will ensure they cross the road safely. than that.

“At St Gregory’s I have got to know the children and their parents and I look on them as friends. I also have a great relationship with the staff because I occasionally go into the school to talk to the boys and girls at their morning assembly about road safety.

“It’s the first time I’ve been so closely associated with a school on my patch. They seem to have adopted me and are very supportive. I was overwhelmed when I heard they had nominated me for the title and I was even more stunned when I won.”

Joy knows a lot of the children she sees every school day by name – and at Christmas she is inundated with cards from the grateful youngsters. Since becoming a Crossing Patrol Warden she has noticed that motorists are less patient and considerate.

“Generally drivers don’t seem to care as much about the safety of children on school routes.

“They are just concerned about getting to where they want to go,” said Joy. Joy, who trained as a hairdresser before giving up her career to raise her family, added: “However, I love the job and don't mind the cold, wet winter days.

“It’s actually the hot summer

weather that can be unpleasant when I’m on crossing patrol duty.

“I would recommend the job as it fits in to many different lifestyles.

Being a lollipop lady certainly changed my life. I used to be rather shy, but you can’t really be shy wearing a big hat and a bright yellow coat!

Supportive “Being a Crossing Patrol Warden has certainly given me self confidence I never knew I had, and having such a supportive school behind me has been a tremendous help.”

St Gregory’s Headteacher, Eileen Rogan said: “Joy provides a wonderful service to our school community. She is very much a member of our school family and everyone holds her in high regard.

“Joy knows so many of the children by name and provides that sense of security as they approach the school for another day of learning – and she has gained so many friends through this important job.”

If you are interested in becoming a crossing warden telephone 01782 236464 and ask for Kath or Angie.

playing

onlythesongs

you love!

LIFT YOUR MOOD WITH

FEBRUARY 2008

Shrunken head origin mystery

LANDSCAPE designers and horticulturalists at Stoke-on-Trent City Council are keeping their fingers crossed that their run of success at the Tatton Park Flower Show will continue in 2008.

Last year a dedicated team of colleagues from the Department of Regeneration and Department of Community Services scooped a Gold Medal in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) National Flowerbed Competition.

Their design celebrating the city's potteries heritage also won Best in Show, and later in the year earned the city council the Wigan Cup for the best exhibit shown to the RHS during the whole year by a local authority.

This year the designers are looking to extend their successful run (which started with a Silver Gilt at the show in 2006) with an ambitious flowerbed design celebrating the city's contribution to the field of entertainment.

A decorative metal screen dividing displays on the themes of Contemporary Stage and Old Music Hall is a main feature in the city council's submission to the RHS, entitled Let Us Entertain You, which is currently being considered for admission to the show.

HE mysteries of a shrunken human head housed at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery could soon be unravelled.

T

The head was collected in South America in the early 20th century and donated to the museum in 1938, where it was on display for many years.

City councillors decided that it should stay in Stoke-on-Trent when other ethnographic items were transferred to Birmingham in the late 1970s.

For Deb Klemperer, the Museum’s Local History Collections Officer, the shrunken head has always posed a number of fascinating questions.

Up to now its origin has proved elusive – but a recently-launched project to examine the head scientifically is on the verge of providing long-awaited insights.

“Shrunken heads were trophies taken in war by the Jivaro tribe of Ecuador” said Deb. “They would take the skull out and offer it to the gods, before shrinking the flesh and then suspending the head by the long, straight hair.

Campaign to stop spread of germs

Different THE CHILLING HEAD – was it shrunken to take away an enemy’s soul?

Forensic Science Department of Staffordshire University is working in partnership with the museum to shed light on the provenance of the object.

Student Martyn Hathaway is working with Principal Lecturer Dr John Cassella to carry out the scientific analysis. This work will include DNA sequencing of

tissue taken from the neck, and detailed examination of the hair.

Deb Klemperer said: “The tests by Staffordshire University are being carried out for free and should solve the questions which have been puzzling us for years. We shall soon know the origin of the head.”

Smoke alarm initiative boosts protection A HARD hitting awareness campaign is urging householders to test their smoke alarms as figures suggest 78 percent of households put their homes and families at risk by not checking the alarms regularly.

This could mean that although 93 per cent of West Midlands households have a smoke alarm, many will not be protected in the event of a fire.

The campaign is running nationally and is being

Flashback to last year’s Gold Medal winning exhibition

Landscape design is out to entertain

DNA science set to unravel secrets of city museum’s most grisly exhibit

“The tribe believed that by doing this they were taking not only their enemy’s life, but also their soul.

“However our specimen is different.

The tight curly hair may point to an Afro-Caribbean origin. Perhaps the person was descended from slaves who worked in the sugar cane plantations. Was this person murdered in order to supply the tourist trade?

“Sometimes extremely skilful forgery produced a shrunken ‘human’ head from an animal head. So is this an animal’s head?”

All these questions may be answered using modern “CSI” techniques. The

Our City

accompanied by TV advertising starring Julie Walters, to raise awareness.

Head of Risk Reduction, Ian Sloss, said: "Despite the fact that the majority of people own a smoke alarm, a disturbing number of people do not maintain those alarms on a weekly basis. The message is simple - smoke alarms save lives, but only if they work!

"We're urging all Stoke-on-Trent residents to pull their fingers out and test their smoke alarms – this

simple action could save the lives of their loved ones."

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue advises householders to fit smoke alarms on every floor, test them weekly and replace their batteries every year.

The fire service offer free home fire risk checks to spot potential hazards and advice on preventing them.

To find out more, phone 08451 221155 or visit www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk

A PLAIN-speaking poster campaign is urging city people to avoid spreading germs through coughs and sneezes.

The pin-ups, which are on display in hospitals, pharmacies and GP surgeries, instruct people to carry tissues, bin them after use and wash their hands as soon as possible.

The campaign forms part of the government’s preparation for possible outbreaks in the future, which people will be able to combat through good hygiene habits.

National Director Professor Lindsey Davies said: ”Good hygiene practice (both hand and respiratory) will have a major role to play in slowing the spread of diseases.

“In the meantime, it should have a positive impact on the spread of seasonal influenza and other diseases.“ For more information log onto www.dh.gov.uk

Speaking cameras CCTV cameras throughout the city centre have been equipped with speakers to warn people who drop litter or behave badly. They will be asked to cooperate and told that they are being monitored and recorded and that police will attend if required.

5

6 Our City

FEBRUARY 2008 Litter warden Fred Ball at work on his patch in Stoke town centre.

Some complaints are very hard to resolve THE old saying “There's no pleasing some folk” certainly rings true for the city’s Trading Standards advisory team.

While the consumer watchdogs are always ready to take up cases of people who feel they have been ripped off, some complaints are beyond their considerable powers to resolve.

For instance, one lady felt she had been cheated by a New Year dinner dance that had promised “plenty of fun and games.“ The disappointed reveller reported: “There was certainly no fun and definitely no games.”

Another lady complained about a mirror she had purchased – because it distorted her image and made her look too large!

And just what were the advisors expected to do about an adult video – that wasn't adult enough?

Mother Town was on the diplomatic map ALL Port Vale and Robbie Williams fans know Burslem is the centre of the universe, but few would ever put the Mother Town on the global diplomatic stage.

Rewind to 1906, when Edward B Walker, pictured above, arrived at his office in 16 Moorland Road – the Potteries’ very own American Consulate! His job – and that of his Vice Consul – was to foster trading links between Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramic manufacturers and the USA. I’m told he took daily exercise. He lived at 222 Moorland Road – a good walk home every day to the top of the hill towards a little piece of the States in Smallthorne!

Investigators detect a ghostly full house MITCHELL Memorial Theatre audiences are famed for their high spirits, but one show by the Mow Cop Players entertained a spine-tingling audience.

Investigators from a local paranormal society spent a night behind locked doors at the theatre and were impressed by the amount of psychic activity they detected.

But no-one was prepared for what happened when the players started a musical number – apparently ghosts like a good tune.

All instruments went off the scale, as hundreds of seats gradually filled with an invisible audience. The experts in spirit matters confirmed that the show was being performed to a full, and ghostly, house.

Fred is proud to keep Stoke tidy E’S one of the unsung heroes in the city council workforce, at the front line of the ongoing efforts to keep the streets of Stoke-on-Trent clean and tidy.

H

Fred Ball, who has been a litter warden for 23 years, feels pride that at the end of each working day he has left the town centre area of Stoke a smarter area than it was before.

The 57-year-old former bakery worker, who hails from Trent Vale, leaves Booth Street depot every morning at 7am equipped with his barrow, two brushes, a pan and brush and a litter picker. He follows the same route across his four-mile area on a daily basis – but the challenges

he faces are continuously changing.

“One of the biggest items of litter now are cigarette ends which are left outside establishments as a result of the smoking ban,” said Fred. “Some areas are carpeted with them, and they all have to be picked up by hand.”

Syringes Other common items of litter are McDonald’s cartons and syringes, which are collected and stored in needlestick boxes.

“We also get scratch cards which people have ripped up into small pieces before dropping them. For some reason, they seem to do the same thing with receipts from cash points,” said Fred, a retired union

shop steward, who is part of the city council’s Neighbourhood Management Team.

Fred is often praised for his work by passers-by, though sometimes people comment on surveys which have highlighted litter problems. “My reply to them is: ‘I don’t drop the litter. I pick it up.’”

The other day Fred, who also helps with sanding the pavements during bad weather, found an abandoned microwave on the pavement. He said: “I have also found wallets, which I hand in to the police station.

“But mostly we deal with general litter. When I get back to the depot at night I feel satisfaction that I have left the pavements of Stoke looking better than they did in the morning.”

Litter picking is seven days a week task FRED Ball’s boss, Andy Chesworth, paid tribute to the litter warden as “a conscientious worker who turns out with a smile in all weathers and is well liked in the community.”

Andy, who is Environmental Manager for the South Western Neighbourhood, said the efforts of Fred and his colleagues in the Neighbourhood Management Team are

part of a continuous improvement policy.

Following a recent drive to enforce the no-litter rule in the town centre, and to educate people to use bins, performance indicator figures now show that 85 per cent of the city’s streets are up to a good standard, compared to 76 per cent last year.

Stoke-on-Trent city council spends around £2

million annually on cleaning the city’s roads, pavements and open spaces.

Fred Ball is one of the dedicated litter wardens, one to each of the town centre areas, who pick up litter every day, seven days a week.

Other council services include a “One Pass” street cleansing and grounds maintenance operation during the

summer, on a 10 to 12 day cycle. Footway sweeping is done every six weeks, and road sweeping every 12 weeks on estates.

HELP us to make e Stoke-on-Trent th e cleanest city in th aging country by encourily your friends, fam and neighbours tothe put their litter in bins provided.

FEBRUARY 2008

LOCAL MATTERS

Our City

7

In the wards of Burslem South, Northwood & Birches Head, Hanley West and Shelton.

Top rapper rocks

Shelton school RENDY rap music has been helping to win the war on anti social behaviour, drug abuse, litter and fly-tipping.

T

Let grants team

entertain you

ROCK megastar Robbie Williams’ Give it Sum charity is taking part in special meetings to help community groups in the city bid for their share of millions of pounds worth of funding.

Robbie set up the special charity through Comic Relief specifically to help organisations in his home city of Stoke-on-Trent.

Special presentations will also give groups advice on how to access funds from Awards for All. The presentations for Give it Sum (3pm) and Awards for All (4pm) take place at Voluntary Action Stoke-on-Trent, Dudson Centre, Hope Street, Hanley, on March 4th between 2pm and 8pm.

Officers from the city council, voluntary and community groups will be on hand to give advice.

■ For further information please contact the community engagement team on 01782 238521.

Facelift for park A CITY park’s play equipment and fencing have been given a muchneeded lick of paint after residents living nearby said they felt it looked neglected.

Around £5,000 of work has been carried out at Grange Park in Cobridge, by Groundwork Stokeon-Trent.

Spokesman Mark Nicholls said: “We have a team of long-term unemployed people who we teach building and landscaping skills to, and they have been working on the park since just before Christmas.

“I’m sure local residents will be pleased with what we have done.”

Other activities in Shelton included community consultations, litter picks and visits to local schools by fire engines.

Chief Supt Jane Sawyers, Commander of Stoke-on-Trent Division, said: “The action weeks suit each area but they generally include activities such as removing graffiti, clearing rubbish and mess, engaging truants, fire safety checks, fighting crime and seizure of illegal vehicles.”

Top rap poet Gary Oliver used his talents to help get the anti-crime message across to young people in Shelton by staging a DJ School workshop at St. Mark’s School.

The week also saw young people from the local DJ School Association who were formerly involved in anti social behaviour working with Staffordshire Police to help increase awareness of the Respect campaign.

Around 15 youngsters, aged between 12 and 25, held DJ, scratch, rap and dance workshops in the Potteries Shopping Centre in order to help other young people who may be at risk of becoming involved in anti social behaviour.

Rapper Gary Since it first began in 2002, DJ Oliver and DJ School has earned a reputation for school pupil delivering high-quality music and Harry performance opportunities for young Eardley, 17. people.

Are you thinking about fostering or adoption?

They are

HEALTH CENTRES Bedford House

01782 425000

Burslem

01782 525700

Cobridge

01782 525893

Hanley

01782 425120

For more information and advice on health issues please call NHS Direct on

0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk

01782 234555 www.stoke.gov.uk/fostering

8

Our City F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8

New joint venture company launched to

Partners aim to be UK bes THE MESSAGE IS ON THE POST-IT NOTE: Museum Service Outreach Officer Vicky Martin invites visitors to leave their written comments at the exhibition.

Museum visitors give views on post-it notes THE Potteries museum was littered with post-it notes to mark the opening of a new exhibition.

Visitors to The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery were given a pack of post-it notes and a pencil as they arrived – encouraging them to leave their views on any aspect of the museum.

The event on January 12 launched Museums Aren't For Me, a free exhibition which runs until March 9.

The exhibition aims to encourage visitors to think about what museums collect and what they should preserve. It features personal objects and the stories behind them from members of the community.

Participants were inspired by the recent discovery of a 116 year-old orange – the shrivelled sweet fruit was placed in a coal miner’s lunch box in 1891, only for him to die following an explosion at a local colliery. The old orange now stands on display in the museum's foyer after being stored in a treacle tin for dozens of years.

Other items on display include a Gibson Blueshawk guitar, a Playstation 2 and Port Vale Football Club memorabilia.

The exhibition is part of a community consultation looking at the way museums will develop in the future. It also hopes to tackle some of the common perceptions of museums, such as the idea that visitors have to be quiet.

Fore more information call The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery on 01782 232323 or email museums@stoke.gov.uk. The museum is open 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm - 4pm on Sundays.

MART new uniforms and a fleet of liveried vans took to the roads of Stoke-on-Trent this month to herald the launch of an exciting new joint venture.

S

Kier Stoke – formed by the city council and construction giant Kier – has taken over the maintenance of public buildings and city council homes.

The £400m, ten year agreement is a pioneering partnership which will transform levels of service and generate profit for investment in city council services. It aims to lift the service to being one of the best in the country, while helping unemployed

people into work, developing skills, helping young people into training and working to regenerate the whole area.

Under the agreement, which was the result of a lengthy tendering process, around 505 workers from the former City Services have been transferred to Kier Stoke.

City council tenants reporting repairs needed at their homes will call the same telephone number as previously – 234100.

The call will be handled by a dedicated repairs customr service team with support from Kier operatives who will help diagnose repairs effectively. This will ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.

There is also the facility to report repairs by text message on 0797 200 5555.

Kier Stoke will bid for other similar work in Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding areas and as the company grows, more funds will come back to the city council to be ploughed back into other services.

Other benefits to the city include Kier’s commitment to training and developing the local workforce.

The company has already invested in supporting local schools and colleges and has made a pledge to recruit locally and use local subcontractors where possible.

Kier Stoke is playing an active role in the local business and regeneration communities, and has already started a programme to help unskilled and unemployed people from the communities it serves back into work.

IER Stoke Operations Director, Scott Murray, said: “Our goal in Stoke-on-Trent is to join the city council and its partners to provide new ways of working, linking into the city’s regeneration, education, training initiatives and business community.

“Our record and commitment to Stoke-on-Trent shows we have the stamina to be a long-term contributor to the city’s ongoing success.”

Stoke-on-Trent’s Elected Mayor, Mark Meredith, said: “Kier Stoke represents a ground-breaking way of providing city council services, linking up a skilled local workforce with the experience of one of the biggest names in construction.

“These are exciting times and everyone at the city council is looking

K

BEEN THERE, GOT THE SHIRT...

Kier Stoke joiner Ian Steventon unpacks his new uniform.

Building futures throu Kier Stoke, Alton House, Cromer Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6AY Tel 01782 236235 Fax. 08700 633284 email: stoke.info@kier.co.uk

In the next ten years Kier Stoke will prov for employment and training to people a As well as improving services, we will su businesses and generate funds for the cit plough back into local services.

It’s a new and exciting way of providing people of Stoke-on-Trent.

That’s why, at Kier Stoke, we are pr building futures through partnersh

FEBRUARY 2008

Fun quiz helps pupils become savvy consumers

m st READY FOR ACTION... Kier Stoke operatives Richard Wright and Martin Lovatt.

TEAMWORK...

Gas fitter Mark Dale and joiner Steve Bott at work installing a tenant’s new kitchen.

ugh partnership

vide opportunities all over the city. upport local ty council to services to the

roud to be hip.

Our City

Wide range of public buildings MORE than 500 public buildings in Stoke-onTrent will be maintained

by Kier Stoke.

Only schools, which are maintained under an existing private finance initiative, will not be covered for maintenance.

Premises to be maintained by Kier Stoke range from the Civic Centre at Stoke to adult social care facilities and even Ford Green Hall which is a 17th century listed building.

A wide variety of other buildings will be covered, including admin offices, leisure centres, residential care homes, children’s centres, day care centres, theatres, town halls, markets, museums, visitor’s centres, enterprise centres, libraries and buildings in the city parks.

YOUNG people from the city’s special schools had lots of fun while learning how to become savvy consumers thanks to the Consumer Challenge Quiz.

The knock-out contest, supported by the city council’s Consumer Protection Team, is designed to equip youngsters with learning difficulties with essential life skills when they leave school.

Prior to the competition consumer protection officers visit the schools to give talks and arrange activities to raise awareness on a wide range of issues such as food matters, safety matters, money and credit, and consumer rights. The students’ knowledge is tested by the quiz – now in its second year – which this year was hosted at the Civic Centre by BBC Radio Stoke presenter Terry Walsh.

Anysley Special School beat off stiff competition from Strathmore College and Middlehurst School to win the local heat. They now go forward to the national final which involves schools from across the country and which this year will be staged in Bournemouth.

National It was a repeat performance by the Aynsley team which last year won the first ever Consumer Challenge Quiz to be held in Stoke-on-Trent and went on to the national final in Manchester.

The winning school won £200 and each member of the four-strong team won £20 worth of Potteries Shopping Centre vouchers – while all the contestants received goody bags which included a £10 book token donated by the Co-op Group. Prizes were presented by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Bagh Ali. Councillor Joy Garner, Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee, said: ”The Consumer Challenge Quiz is a fun and educational way to help motivate students to gain a better understanding of consumer issues.

“It helps to fulfill both Citizenship and Enterprise Education within the National Curriculum Framework, but most importantly, it leaves these young people in a better position to exercise their own consumer rights.”

9

10

Our City F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8

LOCAL MATTERS

Western Edition

Respect week cleans up POLICE took to the streets of Shelton in the new year for a week-long blitz on anti social behaviour.

The Respect Action Week saw officers tackle the problem with an intensive campaign of enforcement and education.

The force teamed up with youth and outreach workers to challenge vandalism, violent and threatening behaviour.

Patrols were stepped up while a mobile police station opened its doors to offer residents advice, free crime prevention devices and the chance to raise issues in their area.

Officers also helped clear away rubbish from building entries and back alleys, and walls marked by graffiti were scrubbed clean.

Matt Harrison – working to clean up the back alleys of Shelton.

Police contact numbers Western and City Centre It’s easy to get in touch with a local beat bobby or police community support officer (PCSO) via their digital airwave radios. All officers have individual collar numbers which are either four or five digits long.

For officers with four digit numbers dial 08453 30 31 32 then enter ‘0’ followed by the four digit collar number of the officer you need to speak to. No ‘0’ is needed for officers with five digit collar numbers. If the officer is on duty, their radio rings like a mobile phone and you will be connected.

If they are off duty or dealing with victims, witnesses or offenders, your call goes through to the officer’s individual voicemail box.

Remember, in an emergency, dial 999.

NPU commander

LONGPORT AND MIDDLEPORT

Inspector 3720 Jim Wood

PC 4886 PCSO 8959 PCSO 8832

Burslem Police Station, Jackson Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 1AF

Tel. 08453 30 20 10 email: southwesternnpu@staffordshire.pnn. police.uk Sgt 4602 Sgt 3840 Sgt 4019

Paul Clarke John Hazeldine Pete Slinn

BIRCHES HEAD EAST PC 0848 Ruth Barlow PCSO 8979 Michelle Chadwick PCSO 16225 Adrian Hemmings BIRCHES HEAD WEST PC 0794 PCSO 8984

Marie Evenson Rebecca Simon

Scott McGrath Helen Rowley Adam van de Sande

NORTHWOOD PC 3829 PCSO 9045

Ian Martin Sue Wall

Tracy Adams Justine Marsh Wendy Rigby

PC 4139 Dave Marshall PCSO 16299 Katie Brickley PCSO 6484 Lisa Donachie STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY PC 4483

Keith Emery

Special constables The Western Neighbourhood Policing Unit is supported by a team of 20 special constables headed by a divisional officer.

CITY CENTRE

NPU commander

Inspector 3509 Shaun Kerrigan ETRURIA AND SHELTON NORTH PC 4632 PC 4389 PCSO 8995 PCSO 16230

Andy Mander Guy Wain Lucy Slater Vicky Smith

FOREST PARK PC 805 PCSO 8987 PCSO 8831

Kate Beardmore Liz Old Katie Sullivan

HEELIE bins introduced in Shelton, Cobridge and Middleport have made a big difference in efforts to tidy up rear alleys and entries.

W

Now residents are being urged to help keep the areas tidy by making sure their bins are only put out on collection days.

Some people, who insist on leaving their wheelie bins outside

all week, could face enforcement action from the city council and a fine of £100.

But most residents have been thanked for playing their part in the initiative which has rid the communities of piles of black bags and refuse blowing round the streets.

Locality Manager Dave Poxon said: “We are making every effort to tidy up these areas and the introduction of the wheelie bins

has had an immediate impact.

“This is just the start and the serious message to residents is that to continue to make it work we have to pull together.”

Some disabled, elderly or infirm residents may be entitled to some assistance in moving their wheelie bins.

To find out more, or for information about collection days, please contact Stoke-on-Call on 234000.

SHELTON SOUTH

BURSLEM AND SNEYD GREEN WEST PC 0896 PCSO 8957 PCSO 6440

Wheelie bin roll-out keeps Shelton tidy

Hanley Police Station, Bethesda Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3DR.

Tel. 08453 30 20 10 email: western.npu@staffordshire.pnn. police.uk Special constables The City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Unit is supported by a team of 13 special constables headed by divisional officer Martin Goodwin.

Police praise drink-drive figures THE number of Christmas drink drivers in Stoke-on-Trent has reduced dramatically, a month-long police campaign has shown.

Officers carried out more breath tests compared to the same time a year ago. The number of positive readings has fallen from eight per cent to 5.6 per cent.

Police issued 452 tests, with just 24 proving positive and two refusals, compared to 243 tests in 2006, of which 18 were positive with one refusal.

Of the 26 people testing positive and refusing in the latest campaign, all were arrested. Some were charged and bailed to attend court while others are awaiting the results of blood sample tests.

Sgt Ian Revans of the divisional road policing

unit said the results of the campaign proved people were taking notice of the advice given not to drink and drive.

“I am pleased with the results and the reduction in the proportion of positive tests despite a significant increase in the amount of people tested. The people of Stoke-on-Trent heeded the advice and were more careful and I hope that continues,” he added.

The campaign saw motorists pulled over at various times of the day and night at different locations across the city.

A record 200 vehicles were stopped in one evening in Tunstall. Out of ten drivers who were breathalysed just one was found to be over the legal limit. He was subsequently arrested and later charged.

FEBRUARY 2008

Our City

11

New urgent care unit relieves A&E pressure

Face2Face befriender Jane Jones with her husband Anderson and their children Ethan, left, and Hannon.

Volunteers give caring HEN Ethan Jones was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at the age of five his mum went looking for support. Now, three years on, she is the one supporting other parents.

W

Jane Jones, who also has Tourette’s, is a volunteer for Face2Face Stoke-on-Trent – a network of people offering support to parents with a disabled child. All of the volunteers, known as befrienders, are themselves parents to a child with a disability.

People with Tourette’s often have facial tics or twitches and can make involuntary movements and sounds. Some families feel isolated and often struggle to find the help and support they need.

Jane was advised by the group’s co-ordinator that she could help others because of her experiences. She then became a volunteer after completing a 40 hour training course.

As a result it has brought her family closer together and she attends an array of local events relating to disability awareness.

face to face support

She said: “Being a befriender has given me so much confidence and it has made me a lot happier. When I meet with other volunteers we get to talk and offload onto each other – so they are my support.”

Ethan, who turns eight this month, joins his mum, dad and older brother Hannon, 12, at meetings and events with other volunteers.

Friendly “It is good for Ethan to interact with the other children and everyone is treated the same.”

Jane is currently spending her time visiting the house of a single mother, offering a friendly face when needed. She hopes to get more involved with Face2Face and support other families.

She said: “Without this I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Face2Face Stoke-on-Trent has18 volunteers in total who are all parents of a disabled child.

After training they offer empathy and compassion to other parents at a time when they are in need of support.

All of the volunteers complete a professional 40 hour training scheme with an experienced counsellor before they help a family. They then each try and support three families over the course of a year.

Co-ordinator Denise Deakin, said: “Feedback is always really good. Families benefit a lot from just talking to someone and it makes them feel that they are not alone. One of the biggest

successes comes from befrienders meeting each other. They all share a feeling that they are doing something worthwhile and it is something they would have loved to have had themselves.”

She added: “Face2Face can just be a means of offloading, allowing parents to feel better.

They are not judged at all.”

Face2Face also arrange public events, one of which was a drama performance based around families and disability at Cobridge Community Centre.

For further information call Denise Deakin on 01782 874974 or email her at denise.deakin@scope.org.uk

Business is booming at city register office MARRIAGES aren’t what they used to be – at least, not in the way we register them officially.

A surge of legislation since 1995 has meant that Stoke-on-Trent’s Register Office in Hanley is staging varying types of ceremonies for everincreasing numbers of applicants.

As well as officiating at civil weddings in approved venues, staff also handle civil partnership ceremonies for same sex couples and renewals of vows. Baby naming ceremonies are also gaining in popularity.

Add to these duties the additional role of

dealing with marriage applications by foreign nationals, and officiating at Citizenship Ceremonies, and it’s clear the remit of Registration Services is ever-expanding.

“Our workload has increased by 70 per cent since 2001,” said Superintendent Registrar Jeff Smethurst.“ The new legislation has made us very high-profile. We offer a cradle-to-grave service, which until recently had changed very little since 1837.

“But since 1995 the celebration between birth and death – marriage – is taking up a lot

more of our time. We are conducting more than 400 marriages and 50 civil partnership ceremonies, together with more than 260 Citizenship Ceremonies, each year.

“The Register Office in Stoke-on-Trent is also one of the designated offices in the North-West for foreign nationals, under immigration control regulations. Applicants often require certificates of approval or ‘indefinite leave to remain’ visas from the Home Office, and we offer an advocacy service – pointing them in the right direction.”

A NEW initiative has been introduced that will drastically reduce the number of people attending Accident & Emergency (A&E) in North Staffordshire.

Up until last month, the department’s average attendance was around 25-30 patients an hour, which prompted North Staffs and Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to set up an “urgent care” unit adjacent to the A&E section.

All cases are still assessed by A&E staff and those that are not life-threatening are passed on to the Primary Care Urgent Care Unit for treatment.

It is hoped the new service launched on January 5 will eventually cut visits to A&E by half, enabling patients who do need priority treatment to receive it more quickly.

For the first three months the unit will operate at weekends only between noon and 10pm – when three quarters of A&E attendances occur. After this period it will cover these peak hours seven days a week.

Success Programme Manager for Stoke-on-Trent Urgent Care, Bob Colclough, said: “The unit is already proving a tremendous success and it has been very well received by both the public and members of staff. On the first night alone we certainly saved many admissions to hospital and are now looking forward to continuing to develop on this achievement.”

The urgent care team consists of an experienced GP, senior nurses and a senior social worker to provide the best possible treatment for patients.

Inititally the focus will be on people who can be discharged, either to their homes or to a more suitable local community setting. It is also hoped these changes will help reduce the number of hospital acquired infections that can occur as a result of admission.

Competition winners CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of our wordsearch competition in issue two of Our City. Mrs Clarke of Smallthorne won a VIP trip to the pantomime, while Mrs Walker, of Fenton, scooped an i-pod.

12 Our City

FEBRUARY 2008

ON THE BALL – members of the the city’s Sexual Health Team at the Britannia Stadium with a banner promoting the Chlamydia screening initiative to football supporters.

Andes trek grants city colleague’s wish to help unit SUPPORTERS of a city education officer and mum of two who recently lost her battle against breast cancer are granting her last wish by trekking across the Andes to raise over £50,000 for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire’s Breast Cancer Unit.

Before she passed away in the winter, 45-year-old Mandy Cuthbertson persuaded her husband Nic to make the sponsored trip, walking over 120 miles through the mountains and valleys of Peru.

He will be joined in June by relatives and city workers and entrepreneurs who knew Mandy, including Peter Wright, the Chairman of Wrights Pies.

The gruelling trek will run from the ancient Inca city of Cusco to the rocky vistas of Machu Picchu, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Nic, 46, who is a manager for Virgin Trains, said:“It’s going to be a tough journey. The air will be thin at the 4,000 metre altitude and the terrain rough.

Impact “Mandy chose the Andes because they rank alongside the Great Wall of China as one of the most iconic places in the world, and they give our campaign a huge impact.”

The sponsored trek will cap a long season of fundraising for the travellers, which has included balls, auctions and live music.

All 12 walkers are funding the adventure out of their own pockets to maximise the money raised for the Breast Cancer Unit.

Nic said:“Some of the group are giving up their annual leave to do this and all are paying their own way, which just shows how much Mandy meant to them. She could have just broken down and cried, but instead she chose to use the time she had left to create something positive that will help others in the future.

“I’m looking forward to standing at the sun gate of Machu Picchu and feeling that we’ve lived up to her wishes.”

EALTH workers have teamed up with Stoke City to make young people aware of the need to protect themselves against Chlamydia.

H

The club’s academy for promising young soccer players has signed up to the B-clear screening programme that offers protection against one of the fastest growing sexually transmitted infections in North Staffordshire.

The city’s Sexual Health Team is providing safer sex workshops to academy members promoting the importance of testing and encouraging the correct use of condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections.

As part of B-clear, young people aged between 15 and 24 can ask online for a free Chlamydia testing kit used to supply a urine sample for a laboratory test. Those using the service specify how they should be contacted with the results so they can be assured of complete confidentiality.

The information campaign is also being waged in youth clubs, schools and many other venues where young men and women congregate.

And earlier this season the Sexual Health Team – which provides specialist and community healthcare on behalf of North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trusts – was at the

Stoke City back sexual health screening Britannia Stadium to give fans arriving for the game against Watford, cards promoting the Bclear website and free screening kits.

Graham Taylor, a member of the screening team, said: “Both men and women can contract Chlamydia, but we are currently targeting young men because they find it difficult to seek help as they regard it as a stigma.

Myth “Many think the treatment is painful – which is a complete myth. Usually all it takes is four antibiotic tablets taken together and nothing else.”

B-clear was launched three years ago to combat an increase in cases of Chlamydia, which nationally one in ten sexually active young people aged 15 and 24 have without knowing it. If left

untreated it can lead to infertility in women and other serious complications later in life for men and women.

Carol Latham, Chlamydia Screening Coordinator, said: “We hope once young men in the area realise how easy it is to be tested and treated, more will come forward.

“The problem with this infection is that it rarely has any symptoms, so people have Chlamydia and simply don’t know it.

“We realise that young people, and men in particular, find it difficult to seek help and advice about their sexual health and often put off asking questions.

“Providing a one-stop solution to young people via our website helps to overcome some of these barriers – and we hope the support of the academy will also reduce the stigma.”

Sexual Health Team members distribute cards promoting the Bclear website to Stoke City fans at the home game against Watford.

If you have any concerns about sexual health, or wish to order the free and confidential test kit, log onto www.b-clear.org.uk

Walk in policy to minimise patient shyness STOKE-ON-TRENT’S sexual health clinic has introduced a walk-in policy to cut appointment waiting times and minimise patient embarrassment. Rather than having to book appointments and wait up to 10 days, patients can now turn up and be seen on the day at the Genito-Urinary Medicine clinic at Central Outpatients, Hartshill.

The scheme comes as part of a national drive by the government for all patients with suspected Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) to be seen within 48 hours. Such patients enjoy a unique confidentiality. Their records are labelled by number rather than name and will be kept from GPs and other hospital departments.

The department also boasts its own entrance and waiting room, and patients are called to private areas for one-to-one consultation.

Head nurse, Ian Turner, said:“The only member of staff who will hear about the patient’s condition is the person who examines them. Our staff are specially trained to deal with sexual

health patients so as to put them at ease.”

Patients can opt to see male or female staff, depending on which makes them more comfortable. Ian said: “Some patients may feel embarrassed about coming to the clinic, but our staff are dealing with STIs and related problems every day so the atmosphere is very relaxed.”

On average, 700 new patients and 400 returning patients come through the doors of the GUM clinic every month. ● Pictured at the clinic entrance are Ian Turner with Clinic Manager Sally, centre, and Staff Nurse Leanne.

FEBRUARY 2008

Our City

13

Powers and budget to be devolved to Burslem, Stoke and Longton

Regeneration gets a lot more

clout COMPREHENSIVE reorganisation of regeneration initiatives in Stoke-on-Trent will give more autonomy to Burslem, Longton and Stoke.

A

The existing Burslem Regeneration Company is being given its own budget and “more clout to get things done”.

A dedicated regeneration manager for the town has been appointed and the company board could have the power to own and run buildings and facilities with profits being ploughed back into the community.

The regeneration manager – with the back up of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership – will review the town’s masterplan and seek millions of pounds of funding for new projects.

A similar model will be rolled out at Longton in April and at Stoke in July with each town having a regeneration company with a board of volunteer directors and a full-time paid manager.

Community Elected Mayor, Mark Meredith, said: “Our aim is to encourage greater involvement from the community and local businesses in the process of regenerating the towns. Far from being talking shops, the company boards will have real teeth and more clout to get things done.

“We want the communities to rally round the cause of regeneration which, in turn, will speed up the process of regeneration and result in more grants and investment. The regeneration managers can be single-minded in the mission of bringing activity and prosperity to the town centres and they will be a contact point for local organisations, businesses and individuals.

‘We want the communities to rally round the cause of regeneration’ Elected Mayor Mark Meredith “We are devolving the issue of regeneration to a more local and community level, which hopefully will create loyalty and sustainable projects.”

At Burslem, the regeneration company has been set up for three years with directors from businesses, the public sector and community groups. Board Chairman is Hugh Edwards, Chairman of the Moorcroft Pottery Company, and ViceChairman is Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley. The city council will be seeking nominations for the new company boards in Longton and Stoke.

Julian Read, former North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone Projects Manager, is the new Burslem Regeneration Manager, based in the town’s School of Art. His first task, working with colleagues in the

The Golden Angel which overlooks Burslem is a symbol of the Mother Town’s civic pride. It has now been adopted by the regeneration company as a talisman for recovery.

Regeneration Partnership, will be to carry out an immediate review of the Burslem Masterplan – a blueprint of planning ideas and guidelines to take the town forward.

Part of the review is devising new proposals for three iconic buildings – the Wedgwood Institute, the old town hall (now Ceramica) and the market hall.

Multi-million pound schemes for the institute and the market hall have been put on hold pending the review.

“It is vital we develop these three key

buildings with viable future uses which will make a significant and lasting contribution to the town’s economy,” said Julian. “We can’t afford to get these wrong. But getting them right will be a catalyst to rapid regeneration.” ● All three regeneration managers will report to Aktar Choudhury, the Partnership’s new Director of Development and Regeneration, who will be the “link” with the city council and wider regeneration issues.

Stoke-on-Trent

Children’s Centres For more information about your local Children's Centre, please contact: Stoke-on-Trent Parent Direct on Freephone

0800 015 1120 or email us at parent.direct @stoke.gov.uk

Daily reminder of doorstep crime TEN thousand elderly and vulnerable people in Stokeon-Trent have a useful daily reminder of how they can protect themselves from becoming the doorstep crime victims of rogue traders and other unscrupulous callers.

The free 2008 Doorstep Calendar produced by Stokeon-Trent City Council’s and Staffordshoire County Council’s Trading Standards Departments carries vital messages on how to deal

with anyone who calls at your home offering goods and services.

Doorstep crime includes the despicable activities of bogus property repairers and distraction burglars whose scams often trick the elderly and vulnerable out of their life savings.

The calendar was produced as part of the city council’s Doorstep Crime Awareness campaign.

In addition to the useful

doorstep tips featured on each page, old photos of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire evoke memories of a more innocent age when everyone left their doors open Val Edmonds, Advice Manager for Stoke-on-Trent Trading Standards, said: “Some victims do not report doorstep scams because they feel ashamed and worry about what their family might say.”

www.stoke.gov.uk

14 Our City

FEBRUARY 2008

New direct payments give people choices PEOPLE in Stoke-on-Trent with disabilities are being urged to take hold of the purse strings for the support they receive.

The Direct Payments Scheme gives service users money, which they can then spend on whichever services they feel meet their needs. This could mean hiring a personal assistant, fees for activities like going to the cinema or swimming.

These packages can also be tailored to relieve stress on carers, covering jobs like cleaning, ironing and gardening, which they may not have time to manage.

So equipment, for example computers, mobile phones and washing machines can be bought.

Each person on the scheme is given a named adviser from Disability Solutions who will be on hand to help the user set up a bank account for the payments, deal with tax and national insurance paperwork and advise on welfare benefits.

The adviser can also help the user decide what to spend their direct payments on.

If the user wishes to hire a personal assistant for their care needs, then the adviser will help recruit and select one. The scheme has proved life-changing for service user Les Harris.

The 45-year-old from Sneyd Green said:“For years, due to medical problems, I’ve felt trapped within the walls of of my house. I was depressed and frustrated that I should be stuck indoors, but too frightened to go out alone.”

But, since then, the scheme has improved his life “beyond all recognition.”

Paperwork He added:“The Direct Payment Advisers at Disability Solutions have guided me through the process of advertising, interviewing and employing a personal assistant. They’ve helped me with the paperwork, tax and the payroll scheme. I couldn’t have asked for more help or kindness than I have received.”

The city council is looking to expand the scheme so that advisers can broker on the user's behalf for the services they want and make every penny of his or her budget count. The scheme, which is on target to involve 434 people by the end of March, is available to most adults who are eligible for social care services (call 0800 561 0015).

Direct Payments is also an option for disabled children and their families through Children's Social Care (call 01782 235100).

Hospital bobby is just the tonic PC cuts crime by 29 per cent in his first year RIME levels at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire have taken a healthy turn for the better since PC Steve Wilson arrived on the patch as one of Britain’s first “hospital bobbies.”

C

From his police post at the heart of the sprawling healthcare complex PC4685 Wilson provides a service that has proved to be just the tonic for staff, visitors and patients.

The hospital got its very own “police force” two years ago to tackle growing problems such as assaults on staff. It was also a response to a pledge by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to place community liaison officers in every major hospital in the country.

In the first twelve months on his new patch – with up to 5,000 people on the hospital site it’s like policing a small town – PC Wilson had cut overall crime within the hospital precincts by an impressive 29 per cent – an achievement that recently earned him a commendation.

Imposing

At more than 6ft tall PC Steve Wilson The officer walks at least five miles a day pounding his beat and has provides a big police become such a familiar figure that presence at the hospital he’s on first name terms with many complex where he is members of staff – from caterers to pictured here talking to consultants. nurse Regina Carrera And the sight of the imposing 6ft while out on his beat.

2in tall uniformed figure on the wards no longer raises eyebrows. Doctors, nurses and patients are used to PC Wilson dropping in to make sure all is The officer has also dealt with incidents of well and to talk to anyone who has concerns. theft from the hospital by members of staff, They all know that a phone call or email and since taking up his post has successfully to his police “station” – a first floor room in gathered evidence for the issuing of a an administration block – will get a quick number of Anti Social Behaviour Orders response from their very own lawman.

(ASBOS) – including one which banned a “In many ways policing the hospital is persistent young car crime offender from the very much like any other patch – you get to hospital premises for five years unless he is know a lot of people and you are dealing there for a medical appointment. with some types of crime and anti social behaviour that can occur on the streets,” High visibility said the PC who joined the police ten years He also provides valuable support to the ago and was formerly neighbourhood beat hospital’s own security staff, and his crimeofficer in the surrounding Hartshill area of fighting talents are often used at other Stoke-on-Trent. hospital sites in the city.

“One of my main concerns is to ensure Recently there was a spate of thefts of that people visiting loved ones do not bicycles mostly owned by medical students become victims of crime,” said PC Wilson. working at the university teaching hospital, With the help of Police Community but PC Wilson made an arrest and the Support Officer (PCSO) Paul Muller, PC problem seems to have been solved.

Wilson tackles a wide range of issues on his PC Wilson said: “Staff tell me they find it patch – such as attacks on staff (usually reassuring to have a high visibility police committed by people who arrive drunk at presence on the hospital site. the A&E department), vehicle crime in “I organise regular events for staff to parking areas and tracing patients who go advise them on how they can protect missing, which saves valuable staff time and themselves from crime, such as the use of resources.

personal attack alarms.”

The officer also brings out a quarterly newsletter which updates staff and publishes his phone and email contact details.

“Quite a number of people at the hospital ring the police post,” he said.

“If I’ve been off duty for a few days I usually have about five phone messages waiting for me.”

Funding for the hospital police post was initially for two years and is due to expire in April.

However, the permanent police presence has had such positive results that it’s expected to continue which will please PC Wilson who never has chance to get bored by his beat.

“With all the development and building work like the new cardio and maternity units going on, the hospital site is changing all the time and I have got to be switched on to those changes,” he added.

“With so many contractors on site I’ve got to keep a close eye on their plant and equipment like power tools in case they are targeted by thieves.” ■

FEBRUARY 2008

Our City

15

LOCAL MATTERS

Western Edition

City centre litter blitz SHOPPERS dropping litter in the city centre received a surprise during a series of enforcement days... they were stopped and told to pick it up.

Our picture shows Western neighbourhood impact officers Tony Dawson and Alan Barnett asking membrs of the public how they feel about litter.

Anyone seen dropping litter was asked to pick it up, and given a sobering warning that dropping litter could carry a £50 fine.

YOUR COUNCILLORS Pictured at the opening of the Forest Park Police Post are, left to right, PC Kate Beardmore, John Knight and Yvonne Protheroe of the residents’ association, PCSO Katie Sullivan, PCSO Liz Old, Inspector Jim Wood and residents’ association secretary Reg Shaw.

Police post boosts peace of mind OLICE have opened a base on Union Street opposite Forest Park enabling residents to meet and speak with officers in their own neighbourhood.

P

The drop-in point at Brookfield Court will hold afternoon and evening surgeries twice a month for locals to share their concerns and inform officers of goings-on in the area.

Inspector Jim Wood, Western Neighbourhood Policing Commander, said: “Lots of elderly people live in the neighbourhood and will enjoy peace of mind from having police contact so

close to home. The new plaza entrance to Forest Park being built on Union Street will mean many more people coming and going in the area, so close links with the local community are crucial for us to keep abreast of what's going on.”

The drop-in point boasts an intercom on the door to connect visitors with officers and a seating area inside. Union Street and Forest Park Residents’ Association agreed to set the room aside for the sessions following discussions with police and the city council, which owns the building.

Association Secretary Reg Shaw was joined at the post's opening by Beat

Officer Kate Beardmore, Police Community Support Officers Katie Sullivan and Justine Marsh, Locality Manager Dave Poxon and Reverend Irvine Johns of the Union Street Church.

PCSO Sullivan said: “It’s a convenient location for elderly people in the neighbourhood, many of whom live in the same building, although the surgeries will be open to everybody.

People can use the post to report problems like anti social behaviour, and know that we will act upon them quickly because this is our area and we want to make it a pleasant place to live.”

Burslem South

DEBRA GRATTON (Lab) (01782) 273370 debra.gratton@ stoke.gov.uk

TED OWEN (Potteries Alliance) (01782) 836486 ted.owen@ stoke.gov.uk

MOHAMMED PERVEZ (Lab) 07919 917632 mohammed. pervez@ stoke.gov.uk

Northwood and Birches Head

REGINALD BOOTH (Potteries Alliance) (01782) 285063 reginald.booth@ stoke.gov.uk

JEAN BOWERS (Lib Dem) (01782) 262613 jean.bowers@ stoke.gov.uk

KIERAN CLARKE (Lib Dem) (01782) 788010 kieran.clarke@ stoke.gov.uk

Hanley West and Shelton

Firefighters raise cash for bereaved families BURSLEM Firefighters have raised over a £1,000 for the appeal to help the families of Warwickshire colleagues who died in a warehouse blaze last year.

The money was raised

through collections at Asda, Tunstall and a massive £817.87 was raised at the Port Vale football match against Doncaster at Vale Park.

Watch Manager Steve Dodd said, “The

generosity of local people has been fantastic.

Unfortunately we got called away to an incident shortly before the Port Vale match started, but we still managed to raise a substantial amount –

we’d like to thank the supporters and the players for their donations and also Port Vale Club Secretary Bill Loadey for his help and cooperation with the appeal.”

MARJORIE BATE (Lab) (01782) 314725 marjorie.bate@ stoke.gov.uk

MOHAMMAD IQBAL (Lab) (01782) 266893 mohammad.iqbal@ stoke.gov.uk

ALAN JOYNSON (Lab) (01782) 413683 alan.joynson@ stoke.gov.uk

16

Our City F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8

LOCAL MATTERS

Crescent Children’s Centre Childcare Manager Nadine Massey visits the Stoke Speaks Out website with threeyear-old Michael Ludford.

Workers green up Cobridge environment ENVIRONMENTAL workers in Stoke have carried out a successful operation to remove overgrown shrubbery from steps and pathways in the Cobridge area.

The week-long project, which focused on the Grange estate, was carried out by the city council’s environmental team.

Local residents had contacted environmental bosses about the untidy state of some of the pathways and grassed areas, which they said had been a long-standing problem.

Environmental Manager Jane Richards said:“We’ve done what we set out to achieve which is open the area up, replace some of the paths, trim back the shrubbery and put in some new trip rails.”

Parking boosts access for carers CARERS making regular visits to residents at sheltered housing in Union Street, Hanley, can now park easily and safely thanks to the introduction of more spaces at the site.

Union Court, which houses 33 flats on three floors, now has a total of eight parking spaces for permit holders visiting people at the home.

Previously only three parking bays were available, which had forced a lot of carers to park away from the building.

Union Court scheme co-ordinator Steph Wedgwood said:“It has been absolutely brilliant, we’ve noticed a real difference.”

New surface boosts safety down alleyway MUCH-needed resurfacing work has been carried out on a hazardous alleyway in Hanley.

The alley, which links Turner Street with Avoca Street and Dover Place, had been attracting lots of litter and broken glass and was also dangerously uneven.

Locality Manager, Dave Poxon, said the work had vastly improved the safety and appearance of the area in general.

“A lot of people use that particular route and thanks to the resurfacing it is now much cleaner and safer,” he said.

Western Edition

Speech success story is the talk of the town AY long celebrations will be held across Stoke-onTrent to shout about a successful project to improve children’s speech and language in the city.

D

Stoke Speaks Out Day – to be held on March 12 – will include dozens of organisations at locations all over the city, including some in the Burslem, Northwood, Hanley and Shelton area.

Children’s centres, schools, nurseries and community groups will be staging special events such as sponsored nursery rhyme sayings, my first word days, fun and games to celebrate the project and promote good relationships between parents and children.

Since Stoke Speaks Out was launched in 2004 more than 2,500 practitioners who work with children in Stoke-on-Trent have received specialist training to help parents develop closer bonds with their children and help the youngsters develop.

The benefits were almost instant. An assessment of speech and language

skills among the city’s children carried out last year showed a five per cent improvement since the project’s launch.

Stoke Speaks Out Project Manager, Stella Coyle, said hundreds of families had enjoyed working with the team at locations throughout the city.

A fun, interactive website, packed with games and activities, and a free family fun pack can be used to take part in Stoke Speaks Out in the comfort of the family home.

Stella said: “It’s all about good use of interactive play, singing and other activities to improve communication and emotional development.

“Successful projects and greater parental awareness build closer families and more confident children which, in turn, improves a child’s ability to learn and future opportunities in life.”

To find out more about events planned for Stoke Speaks Out Day, please call the team on 01782 234501, email info@stokespeaksout.org or visit the colourful website at www.stokespeaksout.org

Our City is published by a partnership of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust, Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue.

Contact us by mail at FREEPOST Our City or by email at ourcity@stoke.gov.uk or telephone 01782 232900

Potters lead the way MEET the Potters... Stoke-on-Trent’s very own cartoon family.

Adam, Claire, Zac, Jasmine and Josh Potter live on Stoke Speaks Out’s website and each has a story to tell about improving language development.

The Potters section of the website includes games, quizzes, a myth busting section, rhymes and songs for all the family.