Councillors have delayed making a decision on a £9 million regeneration scheme outside Stoke-on-Trent Station after raising concerns about plans to move a historic Josiah Wedgwood statue.
Work was expected to start in the New Year on a Government-funded project to create a transport interchange, improve traffic flow and boost pedestrian access on Station Road and Winton Square.
But councillors sitting on Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Planning Committee have voted to defer a decision on the application and asked developers to come up with more information and “sensible” ideas for the Grade II listed memorial, which has been in place since 1863.
Currently, the Wedgwood statue is situated in front of the North Stafford Hotel on Winton Square.
Under the planning application proposal, put forward by the city council, it would be moved to a prominent spot just outside the station entrance to help create a “sense of arrival” and to allow improvement work to take place.
Planning Committee Vice-Chair Cllr. Andy Platt (Labour) called for the deferment, saying the proposal to move a piece of the city’s heritage was “confusing” and “would change the symmetry of the square”.
Councillor Ross Irving (Conservative) added: “Whilst this overall regeneration scheme is welcomed, we are asking if it is feasible to retain the statue in its current place or to just slightly move it back towards the hotel.
“The Wedgwood statue has been there for more than 100 years and this plan needs to be given serious consideration.
“So we are hoping for the developers to come back with some sensible proposals.”
Concerns were also raised that delaying the project may see the council lose out on the Government funding earmarked for the scheme.
It forms part of the £29 million Transforming Cities Fund programme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), which is aiming to create a safe and attractive travel route from Hanley city centre and Bus Station to the railway station.
Work has already started on sections of adjoining College Road involving widening of footways, the introduction of cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings as well as work to address potholes.
If the Station Road plans had been given the green light, work would have got underway in January. As well as improvements to the historic buildings, roads would be widened, a bus gate introduced and improvements to nearby car parks carried out.
There are also plans to install new bus stops and shelters along with real-time passenger information displays.
It is not the first time the movement of a Josiah Wedgwood statue in the city has courted controversy.
Earlier this year, the Capo sculpture of Wedgwood was mistakenly demolished during road improvement works at Festival Park. It led to the resignation of the then deputy leader of the Conservative Group Cllr. Dan Jellyman (he is now Conservative Group leader and Chair of the Planning Committee).
