MORE than 130 people are calling for an automatic door system at a community centre to ensure disabled visitors can access the building.Despite being completed five years ago, Blurton Hub's disability-friendly doors were never installed.Now a petition has been submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City Council.Councillor Joan Bell, chairman of trustees at the centre, said the venue was used by at least 50 MS sufferers twice a week and was also popular with the elderly.She added: "If you are disabled,...
↧
Campaigners call for disability-friendly doors at Blurton centre
↧
Stoke-on-Trent senior scout leader caught with 11,000 indecent...
ONE of Stoke-on-Trent's most senior Scout leaders has resigned after being caught with more than 11,000 indecent images of children.
Former teacher Brian Billington's reputation is today in tatters after he was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register. The 71-year-old assistant commissioner for Stoke-on-Trent District Scouts had been held in 'great esteem' until his arrest when police discovered the 'vile' pictures on a computer at his home in Blurton.
Billington's hoard of 11,019 images...
↧
↧
Way We Were: Blurton pub The Cornerstone remembered
THE local pub is often referred to as the hub of the community, a place where families and friends come together for everything from the regular post-work pint to weddings, wakes and other major occasions.
The bricks, mortar and ever-flowing beer may be modified and changed over the years, but the pub as a central unifying force continues, providing the background setting for many shared memories.
But the hallowed institution of the local pub has been through a tumultuous period, with much of...
↧
Landlord's anger as yob who left him 'scarred for life' in glass...
PUB landlord Alex Hobbs has been left permanently scarred after being glassed in the face by a drunken customer he refused to serve.
The 40-year-old was rushed to A&E after Michael Coady smashed his forehead with a pint pot during the scuffle at the Sir Robert Peel in Dresden.
Now 31-year-old Coady, of Appleford Place, Blurton, has been jailed for 12 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court following the attack last March.
Mr Hobbs – who used a pool cue to try to defend himself...
↧
Douglas Macmillan Hospice launches an appeal for Dementia...
A CHARITY has launched an appeal for volunteers.The Douglas Macmillan Hospice, in Blurton, is working alongside St Giles Hospice, in Lichfield, to recruit volunteers willing to 'be-friend' Dementia patients and help reduce their isolation from the community.The Hospice will be holding an open day on Wednesday, August 5 at the Stone Community Hub, in Lichfield Street, Stone, between 1.15pm and 2.45pm and on Tuesday, August 11 at Christ Church, Stone, from 6pm for anyone who may be...
↧
↧
Who's been up in court? The latest cases from across North...
BIDDULPH: THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Sean Booth pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to comply with the requirements of the sexual offenders' register. The defendant, of Woodland Street, Biddulph, will be sentenced by North Staffordshire magistrates on August 20. He was granted bail.
PORTHILL: TWENTY-YEAR-OLD Adam Machin pleaded guilty to criminal damage. But the defendant, of Sparrow Terrace, Porthill, denied assaulting Lisa Martin on June 9 and he will go on trial at North Staffordshire Justice...
↧
Who's been up in court? The latest cases from across North...
FEGG HAYES: THIRTY-three-year-old Ian Pawlowski, of Ecclestone Place, Fegg Hayes, has pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and possession of class B drugs. He also admitted driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and having a bald tyre.Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre handed him a 120-day curfew from 8pm to 7am and a five-month community order. He was also handed a 12-month driving ban and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim...
↧
Families urged to have say on plans to move 'dangerous' bus stop
FAMILIES are being asked where a bus stop should be relocated – following complaints that its existing location is too dangerous.
Residents say the drop-off point outside the One Stop store in Blurton Road, Blurton, is on a narrow stretch of road creating a hazard for motorists trying to overtake.
Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council has submitted plans to move the stop further up the road near to Selkirk Court. The authority is inviting bus users and residents to have their...
↧
Supernatural Staffordshire: Two men meet to find they're living...
Paranormal Investigator Damon Simms has explored the dingiest corners of some of Staffordshire's spookiest places.
This week he tells the story of two men who met for the first time after almost 40 years to find they were sharing identical lives.
EVERY now and then we ask ourselves questions that are throw up more questions than answers – and bizarre experiences of coincidence are a very good example.
Have you ever been thinking about someone you haven't seen in a while, and out of the...
↧
↧
Staffordshire police hunt 'armed road rage' suspects who fled...
POLICE are hunting men who were involved in a suspected road rage incident and believed to have had a gun.Armed officers were deployed after Staffordshire Police was alerted to men in a blue Mercedes threatening the occupants of another vehicle in the Liverpool Road area of Newcastle on Tuesday evening.Officers conducted an extensive search in order to locate the Mercedes, which included vehicle inquiries and address checks.It was found in the Blurton area just before 8pm but later abandoned in...
↧
Road rage men remain on the run from police amid gun reports
POLICE are hunting men involved in a suspected road-rage incident where one of the group was thought to have had a gun.
Armed officers were deployed after Staffordshire Police was alerted to men in a blue Mercedes threatening the occupants of another vehicle in the Liverpool Road area of Newcastle on Tuesday evening.
Officers conducted an extensive search in order to locate the Mercedes, which included address checks.
It was spotted in Blurton just before 8pm and following a short pursuit...
↧
Breast cancer sufferer Madison Joyce, 22, appeals for sponsors...
A 22-YEAR-OLD breast cancer sufferer is urging people to donate to a local charity.Madison Joyce, of Bucknall, has taken part in the Douglas Macmillan Hospice's Dare to Bare campaign. She 'bared all' for a tasteful nude photoshoot to raise funds for the Blurton-based Hospice.And the support worker, who has undergone a mastectomy and now faces a three-year treatment plan of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is now appealing for people to sponsor her.To donate visit www.justgiving.com/Madison-Joyce.
↧
Police reappeal for witnesses to 'armed road rage' incident
POLICE are still hunting men involved in a suspected road-rage incident where one of the group is believed to have had a gun.
Armed officers were deployed after Staffordshire Police was alerted to men in a blue Mercedes threatening the occupants of another vehicle in the Liverpool Road area of Newcastle on Tuesday evening.
It was spotted in Blurton just before 8pm and following a short pursuit by police, was abandoned in the Church Road area.
Witnesses should call 101, quoting 614 of...
↧
↧
Man left with 'serious facial injuries' after assault at Trentham...
Police are appealing for witnesses to a serious assault on the Trentham Estate.
The incident happened at around 11pm on Saturday, September 5 and left a 54-year-old man with 'serious facial injuries'.
The man, from Blurton, had been to a music event with his family before was assaulted outside Frankie and Benny's restaurant.
It is believed that a passenger in a blue Toyota Avensis taxi got out of the car and assaulted the man before getting back into the taxi.
The injured man was taken...
↧
RSPCA launch appeal after Staffie 'riddled with tumours' found...
ANIMAL charities are trying to trace the owners of a dog that was found dumped with three tumours on its body.
The white Staffordshire bull terrier – who has now been named Bubbles – was discovered wandering the streets of Blurton.
She was then taken to Hope Veterinary Surgery in Trentham where she is set to undergo treatment.
Now the RSPCA is appealing for the public's help to track down the owner.
RSPCA inspector Laura Bryant said: "She is a lovely, very friendly girl...
↧
Dougie Mac chief executive allays Sentinel readers' fears over...
BOSSES of a much-loved hospice have given assurances it will never be taken over by a private company – despite a programme by NHS leaders to 'privatise' care for the dying.
They spoke out amid fears that vital donations from the public to the Douglas Macmillan Hospice, based in Blurton, could be hit by the row.
It comes as Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are examining bids from big businesses to take over the commissioning of £535 million of NHS end-of-life...
↧
Knifeman jailed for brutal attack on girlfriend
KNIFE-WIELDING Gareth Plant punched and kicked his partner leaving her with four broken ribs and two black eyes.
The 40-year-old dad attacked Tina Williams with a knife after an argument spiralled out of control.
She was also left with a two-inch cut to her nose and a badly-bruised left arm.
Now Plant, who has no previous convictions for violence, has been jailed for 21 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Lisa Hancox said Plant and Miss Williams had been in a relationship...
↧
↧
New market is 'by the people, for the people'
A MUCH-NEEDED market has been hailed as 'a blessing' by grateful traders.
Residents had been calling for a market in Blurton for years.
Nine traders showed off what they had to offer yesterday as the market was officially unveiled.
Sid Hodgkiss, aged 56, of Knutton, trades books to help raise money for St Albans Church.
He said: "There are lots of older residents here who don't want to or can't travel to Longton or Stoke to get to a market."This has been a blessing from God...
↧
Alfie, 2, fights for his life after grapefruit-sized tumour found
LITTLE Alfie Bullock is facing the fight of his life – after a cancerous tumour the size of a grapefruit was found in his stomach.
The two-year-old will spend up to four to six weeks in hospital undergoing gruelling chemotherapy after having surgery to remove most of the lump last month.
Doctors have warned the powerful drugs could leave the youngster with hearing loss and learning difficulties.
Now a fund-raising drive has been launched to help meet the cost of sending Alfie abroad...
↧
Volunteers set up library after mobile service axed
DEDICATED volunteers hope the launch of a library will be a new chapter for their community.
Families can now borrow books on their doorstep after the Old Blurton Community Centre set up the service.
The Oakwood Volunteer-led Library cost just over £300 to set up and houses more than 1,000 books.
It was officially opened on Wednesday by Stoke-on-Trent City Councillors Joan Bell and Kath Banks.
The Saltbox Christian organisation in Hanley has backed the venture with a grant of...
↧