Plans to build a £12 million transport interchange outside Stoke-on-Trent Station have been given the green light – despite some councillors having reservations over relocating a historic Josiah Wedgwood statue.
Work on the scheme, which includes the introduction of a bus gate on Station Road, changes to car parks and drop-off facilities – as well as public realm and street furniture improvements – are now set to get underway in March.
The Department of Transport-funded project was first put before Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Planning Committee in December.
But committee members deferred a decision until today (February 14), asking developers to come up with fresh proposals over moving the Grade II listed statue from its current location on Winton Square to directly in front of the station entrance.
However, following a review – and weighing up the pros and cons – the Council, which is also the developer of the project, said they still favoured the relocation as their preferred option.
Following a two-hour meeting this morning, and a rejected proposal for a site visit, councillors finally voted by eight to three (with one abstention) in favour of the entire application.
The statue will now be taken to a place of safe keeping where restoration work will be carried out before it is moved into a new position just under six metres from the station entrance.
Planning Committee Vice-Chair Cllr Andy Platt, who had called for the deferral in the last meeting, said: “We have to take into account that this application is not just about the statue it is about the entire proposal and the impact it will have on our city and the visitor economy. I am, therefore, in favour of the application.”
Cllr Ross Irving said: “I can’t agree. I’m not convinced the general appearance of Winton Square will benefit from this statue relocation.
“When the square was built in the 19th century the aesthetics would have been taken into great consideration by planners – this move will see those general aesthetics moved out of balance.”
Planning Committee Chair Cllr Daniel Jellyman added what was right 200 years ago didn’t necessarily apply to the current situation.
He added: “The traffic situation at the moment is absolute chaos. It’s not clear where to get a bus and vehicles are parked all over the place causing a myriad of hazards.”
The regeneration scheme 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.
As well as enhancements to historic buildings around the station, roads will 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.
