An iconic statue of Josiah Wedgwood, which held up a multi-million-pound project for several weeks due to concerns about relocating it, is about to be moved.
The statue on Station Road Stoke is to be temporarily removed, restored and then re-positioned in front of the station entrance to provide a welcoming feature to visitors to the city.
However, late last year councillor concerns over moving the 160-year statue from its original location on the other side of the road prevented the £12 million transport interchange pound project starting early in the new year.
The scheme finally got approval in mid-February and work got underway in May. It is due to be completed by Autumn 2025 when the statue will be in its new position.
A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: “Moving the Wedgwood statue is quite an undertaking, but this has been carefully planned with heritage experts. Its new position will work with the design of the station gateway for a sense of arrival and meeting space.
“The bronze statue is a symbol of civic pride and its more prominent position will allow people to better appreciate one of the city’s greats and the unique heritage of the city as a global centre of ceramics production.”
The statue will be removed to coincide with works in front of the station entrance starting on 27 June. A full road closure of this section will be required for six weeks while necessary works are undertaken to an underground culvert and utilities infrastructure.
The Station Road redevelopment is the next stage of the £29m Transforming Cities Fund programme in the city, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT).
More information on diversions, drop-off and parking during this time can be found at Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) | | Stoke-on-Trent.
