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Are my selfies getting any better?

There are so many problems arising in the ward because of Government austerity measures.  Yesterday I spent a couple of really demoralising hours showing various agencies some of the issues that I and my neighbours face everyday.

One of the most regular issues at the moment is potholes.  They are everywhere!  The Tory led council are cutting budgets so that there is no known date for repairs to be completed.  In a ward that just 2 years ago hardly had one pothole to now reporting almost every street.  What an epitaph for the Tories!

There were also many reports of anti-social behaviour around the ward.  These are mainly related to mental health issues, poverty or drugs.  With proper intervention these could be tackled but now communities are having to deal with the results.

We also looked at various housing issues in both council and private housing.  Some of these relate to the issues above but also the ever present flytipping.  There is clear evidence on the ground that where there are a lot of buy-to-let properties there is more flytipping.  These properties need to be much better regulated to protect the community and the tenants.

The residents of Boothen & Oak Hill deserve so much better.  They deserve a Labour Council and a Labour Government!

"Imagine the scene in 1894.  In those days London Road was a cobbled highway, resounding to the screech of steam-trams as they slowed to a halt near this spot.  Between pavement and water's edge were iron railings and a row of tall trees."

Richard H. Weir, in his 1980’s Staffordshire-themed book ‘Six of the Best: A Potteries Companion’ describes the events that took place next:-

"As a tram drew close at 4 o'clock, one April afternoon, its young conductor heard screams coming from the canal.  He looked up and, seeing a little girl, terrified and flailing desperately to stay afloat, wasted no time in vaulting the railings and plunging into the chill water to her rescue.  By fate's intervention, he was tragically seized by a violent cramp and sank like a stone to the bottom.  The child was later pulled out alive."

This Saturday 14th April 2018 at 11am we shall be celebrating our own local hero by his memorial on London Road.  All welcome.  Please meet from 10:45am and join us afterwards for tea and cake in The West End Centre opposite (former West End Hotel).

The weather seems to be set for a sustained cold spell with snow and ice.  All the forecasters say so.  The main issue in the local media is likely to be "Traffic Chaos" - Shock! Horror!  Although the Tories and independents are running the city council it is still likely that there will be criticism however muted it may be.

However, I am asking you to be more concerned about those issues that tend to get overlooked at this time.

Firstly, imagine being homeless in this weather.  This is not a priority for the Tory/independent city council as they are proposing to cut £1.3m from services to homeless people.

Yes, you heard right - 1.3 MILLION POUNDS (£1,300,000) from homeless support in Stoke-on-Trent over the next two years. However, most people I know are compassionate and care.  How can the 6th richest country in the world have homeless people AND treat them like this!?!?  If you are aware of anyone living on the streets or in danger of becoming homeless please use the contact details above and ring 0800 970 2304.

Secondly, think about the workers.  Specifically, think about those workers that work outside doing those jobs that we value so much.  The city council visit every house and street every week to collect waste.

Those bin workers are out in all weathers.  Normally, the only weather that defeats them is snow and ice.  Sometimes this is because the collection vehicles literally can not get down streets, sometimes because of other traffic and sometimes because of the risk of injury to the staff themselves.

I know this is a valued service because if there is a delay in collection for any reason it is reported.  That's fair enough and helps the service monitor where issues are arising.  However, please be patient because they will turn up.  The normal advice is that if your collection hasn't taken place when you expected just leave your bin out - you will not be fined if the collection hasn't happened.

Stay safe!