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Last year Newcastle Borough Council stopped collecting refuse from private roads due to quite reasonable Health and Safety concerns.  Being aware of this I was worried for the only private road in Boothen and Oak Hill - The Villas.

The Villas is a very special area - the first conservation area in the city, the oldest Residents' Association in the city and unique and beautiful buildings.  However, people tend to buy the houses because they love them, often spending their last funds on the purchase.  The road surface is an issue but the residents have to maintain it themselves, often by means of work days where they all (or at least those who are willing and able) get to work on filling potholes etc..

When the City Council withdrew collections on The Villas several weeks ago I asked for a site meeting with the Residents' Association and Council officers.  I'm please to say there was compromise on both sides and several safe collection points were established along the road.  There was also an agreed plan to keep and even extend the areas for collection based on the maintenance of the road.

If you have a similar issue where you live please let me know on andy.platt@stoke.gov.uk

You may have seen that there is quite a lot of activity on the former Victoria Ground at the moment.  And there's going to be more when the Developers move on.  Currently, there is the site preparation works.  I have already commented on the removal of Japanese Knotweed and the other shrubs.

Yesterday (Wednesday 11th October 2017) I met the Developer and Principal Contractor on site.  See above with Rob Greaves, Emma Laventine and Aurie Cox of St Modwen Homes.

There were several issues I raised with them:-

1. I asked that there should be no vehicles entering or leaving the site during the hours when parents and young people are trying to get to and from school;
2. That no vehicles entering or leaving the site use Lonsdale Street;
3. For them to set up a viewing platform so that locals and other interested parties could see what is happening on the site;
4. Carefully consider the pedestrian arrangements they make when they reconstruct Boothen Old Road in front of the site AND
5. most importantly, that they let people know what their plans are!

I'm pleased to say that they were responsive to my comments and they intend to write to neighbours in the next week or so.

I shall meet regularly with them over the construction period and if you have any problems or queries please let me know on andy.platt@stoke.gov.uk and I shall raise those issues for you.

Edit:- I have subsequently requested that they install wheel washing facilities on site to prevent mud on the road. 

The developer hopes to be on the site of the Victoria Ground very soon.  They are hoping to start on their show homes which will be on Boothen Old Road before the end of the year.

Although contractors tend to be very focused on health and safety these days we all need to be vigilant during construction, especially with Stoke Minster Primary School being next to the site.

If you have any concerns please let me know on andy.platt@stoke.gov.uk

The final arrangements for Boothen Old Road are also being considered carefully.  These photos show the current situation.

The proposal is to widen the road for it to be a modern standard carriageway.  I have stressed that the safety of parents and children going to Stoke Minster School should be paramount.  I'm hoping that the junction of Boothen Old Road and Lime Street should make accessing the school a choice and not the obvious route.  I hope this is accepted.

Following the consultation on street naming I have asked the city council to see whether they can name the roads as if we were standing on the Boothen End as many of us did.

Therefore, if that is followed we will have (in defence) Frank Soo Street closest to the Boothen End and Bob McGrory Street as the next road.  In his 31 years at the club McGrory spent 14 playing (including 10 as captain) and 17 as manager and therefore it is appropriate that this road is expected to be the link road to the second phase of the housing development.

In attack (the Stoke End) we will have John Ritchie Street and Freddie Steele Street.  There is one street that runs the length of the development and that would be Paul Ware Street.  That seems appropriate for a midfielder who worked so hard for Stoke City FC.

The other names that were suggested will be put forward for the second phase which should be considered sometime next year.

If you have any further ideas for remembering the history of the ground please let me know on andy.platt@stoke.gov.uk.