This website is here to keep you up to date with news and comments about what is happening in Stonefield and Christchurch ward and in our beautiful town of Stone.  And  I may also indulge in a little gossip!

Please call me if you have any issues or problems. 

 Best wishes,  Richard Stevens

I was delighted to see such a good turnout for the Civic Parade and Church Service this morning. The wind was blowing a gale but the rain stayed away, thank goodness.

Councillor Mark Green, our new Town Mayor, led the Parade from Stonefield Park through town to St. Michaels Church where he read one of the lessons. It was only later that I discovered that he’ d forgotten his reading glasses and had recited the reading mostly from memory! Well done, Mr. Mayor!

Our Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Jill Hood, had also managed to be in two places at once! Deputising for Mark, she’d officially started the 10K road race down at St.Michael’s First School and then dashed back into town to join the Parade at the top of the High Street. I’m sure she’d modestly say that, as Administrator of the Food and Drink Festival,  she’s used to multi-tasking!

A few days ago, I was talking to someone in the town who made a comment that I always seeemed to be dashing around the town and wondered how far I walked each day. I’d never thought much about but mentioned it to Janet. Mistake! She went to Hanley yesterday and whilst shopping bought me a pedometer!

So I can tell you that yesterday I walked seven and a half miles! Impressed? Well I have to admit it was not a typical day -  a litter pick in the morning, a crown green bowling competition in the evening and a walk to  the Station for a party at night. No wonder I’m feeling shattered this morning! 

The weather this morning was pretty miserable but still a couple of dozen volunteers and young folk turned up at ten o’clock in the Market Square to take part in another P.C Andy Whitehall litter pick.

I was part of a team that first did the top half of the Priory Estate and then went over to the Ministry estate. I am delighted to report that most areas are looking very neat and tidy - the blackspots appear to be alleyways and footpaths off the beaten track.

In total, I think the morning’s work filled about fifty bags so it was all worth while. And afterwards some rather damp and cold ‘pickers’ were treated to a complimetary hot drink by Custodio in the Lounge. Thanks, Cus - I needed that! And well done Andy - again!

Today there was a very festive feel to the town with ladies dressed to the nines and flaunting the most wonderful millinery creations  (- hats to you and me!). And all in aid of charity.

The Ladies section of Stone British Legion put on a town centre event to coincide with Ladies Day at Ascot. So there was a window dressing competition, a best hat competition, a tombola and, tonight, I understand a Duck Race was to be held at the Star.

And under the marquee Tony Panter had rigged up a very large TV set so that ‘the punters’ could watch the race itself. A great idea and one, I’m sure, that will be repeated.

I’m fairly used to public speaking. I’ve addressed magistrates, arbitrators, Tribunals, judges, political hustings,  public meetings, etc. etc.  - but today was a rather unnerving first experience. Speaking to two hundred ladies and not another man in sight!

Many months ago I was asked if I would be willing to give a talk about Stone Food and Drink Festival to the Barlaston branch of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice charity. I immediately accepted. I don’t need to be asked twice to talk to anybody about our Food and Drink Festival! And the added bonus was that it was in Barlaston where I spent a very enjoyable time as a young man in my teens and twenties - Barlaston in the swinging sixties was a good place to be!

And so it was that at lunchtime I ate lunch in a large marquee surrounded by so many familiar faces. And then ’singing for my supper’ by talking about the Festival. It seemed to go down all right and if I was able to persuade a few of them to come down to Stone in October then it was all worth while.

No, not the Skylark but Brindley’s Floating Restaurant! Yesterday, to celebrate our birthdays, Janet and I booked the entire boat for family and friends and went off for a lunchtime cruise. We all met at Westbridge Park and headed south, eventually turning back just short of Sandon.

No one had been on the boat before so there was immediatley a novelty value and when the meal was served everyone was so impressed. Good weather, good food, good wine and good company - all the ingredients for a perfect day!

We had almost a dozen Stone guests on board who had heard of Brindleys but never been on it before. Without exception, they all bemoaned the fact that they had ignored what was on the doorstep and that they will certainly be booking trips in future!

Thanks to Geof, Heather, Richard, Taggy and Chloe for a great trip.

This year, the Food and Drink Festival will be promoting many talented local chefs and we are being very ably assisted in putting our programme together by Paul Gilmore of Restaurant Gilmore over in Bramshall near Uttoxeter. Today, Jill Hood, Adam Jones, Pam Graham and I went over to see Paul to review progress.

Paul really has been hard at work! He has recruited several chefs to give demonstrations and has also come up with some very interesting and novel ideas for demonstrations over the three day Festival.

I can’t disclose too many details until we have ‘dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s’ but I hope the Festival website will be up and running in the next few weeks where you’ll be able to see the programme.

In the meantime, make sure you are in Stone from October 3rd to the 5th!

Yesterday was Janet’s birthday so we decided to eat out last night. After much umming and ahhing we chose to go to the Wayfarer Inn on the A34. We hadn’t been since it was taken over by Joseph, son of Geof from the Holly Bush at Salt, so we were not quite sure what to expect. We use the Hollybush quite regularly and have never had a poor meal there - so would the Wayfarer live up to the same high standard?

The answer is an emphatic ‘Yes’. We were greeted by a very polite and pleasant member of staff. After choosing our meals we were shown to a very comfortable corner table (did we really look like a couple out for a romantic evening?) and were then treated to a superb meal. The menu is very similar to the one at The Hollybush and cooked to the same high standard. I had my usual mixed grill (all protein - it was a ‘red’ day on my diet!) and it was wonderful. But Janet, to my surprise, ordered a sirloin steak. And she ate the lot. She complimented it as being tender, lean, full of flavour and perfectly cooked. My wife is not too easily pleased in the steak department so her compliments to the chef were quite an accolade!

On the basis of our two meals last night, I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending the Wayfarer. There’s no need to travel to Salt now!

I had a Victor Meldrew moment this morning!

A very succesful Stone Festival ended yesterday and today - lo and behold - Stafford Borough Council’s Streetscene department are starting to put up the hanging baskets!

Words fail me!

I knew yesterday was going to be special - but it exceeded all my expectations for a number of reasons!

Fantastic weather!

You’ve all read my proud boasts before that we’ve never had rain on a Farmers’ Market in Stone and it certainly didn’t rain yesterday! Blue skies and hot sunshine all day set the backdrop for a marvellous day!

Best Farmers’ Market ever!

Forty one stalls and a carnival atmosphere. Murphy’s Marbles playing in the square and the Carnival Parade passing around Christchurch Way on its way to Westbridge Park. No complaints from anyone - other than one trader who was moaning that he’d sold out and would have brought more stock had he known how good it was going to be!

Birthday specials!

And because it was my 65th birthday, I was allowed to have a day off the diet. So shortly after nine o’clock I was joined by Janet and several friends for a full fried English breakfast at an outside table at the Lounge. Two sausages, double bacon rashers, black pudding, hash browns, egg, tomato, mushrooms baked beans and fried bread - heaven!

And much to my embarrassment, later in the morning Kevin from Murphy’s Marbles called me over. I thought he wanted a quiet word about something but - no! - he immediately struck up with a round of “Happy Birthday” sung by everyone in the Market Square and the High Street. I think I blushed!

Successful end to Festival!

In the afternoon the Parade arrived in Westbridge Park to begin an afternoon of fun and frolics! And judging by the huge crowd it is obvious that holding the Farmers Market on the same day didn’t detract from the Festival’s success. In fact, it has been suggested the Market probably brought even more people into town.

Up, up and away!

And at four o’clock I joined Sue Mason for her sponsored helicopter ride. Sue had been inspired by my sponsored slim and had asked me to help her organise a sponsored helicopter ride. Sue has MS and had never flown due to her fear of flying. So we arranged sponsorship forms and today she did it! A wonderful trip with fantastic views over Stone raised over £350 for the Stone MS Society. Sue’s secret is safe with me, so when I am asked, the answer will always be ” She loved it”! She was very brave but I din’t think she’ll be repeating the experience! Fantastic, Sue - well done!

Party through the night!

So when it was all over it was back home, a quick shower and then - let the party begin! Yes, I seem to have a crowd of good friends who know how to enjoy themselves! Apologies to the neighbours! It was such a beautiful warm and calm night that we ended up on the patio until well into the small hours.

What a wonderful day!

I’ve mentioned the fact that The Royal Exchange pub is a sad sight having been boarded up  some weeks ago. And I’ve also expressed my concerns for the traders in Radford Street. Well, today I can reveal some fantastic news ’straight from the horse’s mouth’ which will cheer up all real ale fans and should breathe some life back into Radford Street! The Royal Exchange has been bought by Titanic Brewery of Burslem and will re-open as a Titanic pub in September!

Jill Hood and I met one of the directors of Titanic today to discuss Food and Drink Festival issues and were given permission to break the news! So remember - you saw it here first!

This is brilliant news. I had feared that the building would be purchased by a developer and converted to apartments. But it’s future as a pub is now guaranteed. And judging by the quality of the refurbishment of their latest pub - The White Star in Kingsway Stoke - we can expect to see a much improved Exchange. All Titanic’s ales on handpulls plus four or five guest beers - oh, life is getting better just thinking of it!

Each year the bonfire builders and fireworks team always  manage to come up with a new theme and this year is no exception! So, on Saturday November 8th, Stone will be treated to a bonfire, fireworks display and music all designed around a “pirates” theme.

Tonight’s bonfire committee approved the plans so Derek and Charles Purton will now be plotting and planning to give us an even bigger and better show than last year - and that was brilliant! I’ve said it many times before but what an amazing committee this is.  A dedicated group of volunteers will put on the most professional display for miles around - and each member plays a vital part in putting on the event.

Stone’s first bike race, the Circuits de Stone, run under BCF rules takes place two weeks tomorrow - so the pace of the arrangements is really hotting up! Two meetings today - one with some of the town’s publicans this morning and the other with members of the working group this afternoon.

Granville Square will be the place to be! With road closures in place, most of the square will become probably the best viewing area in town and with live entertainment playing on a stage built above the flower bed and the surrounding pubs and restaurants serving customers outdoors, there really will be a carnival atmosphere! Not that the rest of the town will be ignored! Most pubs and bars will be doing a roaring trade and thousands of spectators are expected to be lining the route.

The partying starts at 6.30 p.m. and the racing begins an hour later. Four of the sport’s top teams have entered and the pack will contain almost sixty of the country’s top cyclists. Race commentary will be the BBC’s commentator Hugh Porter. But we will have to open the roads again after the race - so the party must be over by ten! What a great night is in prospect! So remember the date - WEDNESDAY 18th JUNE.

Janet is a real brick. Now that I’m so heavily committed during the week, she is managing to keep the allotment under control almost single handed. So I couldn’t refuse her request when she asked if I would have time today to cut the hedges. After breakfast I changed into my working clothes and lugged the generator down the path. It took most of the morning to trim the hedges into shape and I was ready for a rest when we went home for lunch!

But then it was back into the fray! We’re having a bit of a party next week ( two rather significant birthdays in early June!) so I decided to ‘trim’ the beech hedge alongside the drive. Big mistake! Two and a half hours later I was still clearing up!

However, after a hot bath and a couple of pints, my back is beginning to ease up a bit! And the hedge looks very good! I think I’m now a couple of Brownie points in credit!

I did say some months ago that I wouldn’t bore you with details of the number of hits on this site. But I think I can justify just this one comment. It’s not yet the end of the month and already this site has had over 10,000 (yes - that’s ten thousand) hits in May! And all your comments are favourable! So thanks for your support.

Having mentioned the by election up the road in Crewe and Nantwich a couple of times, I suppose I’d better make a comment or two about the result! Yes, of course I’m disappointed that the Liberal Democrats didn’t do better - but it wasn’t the disaster some pundits were forecasting. I spent several days up there on the campaign and it was obvious that the Tories were going to win and that Labour were heading for a thrashing. Our hope had been to persuade disaffected Labour voters to vote Libdem but it appears they were so angry with Gordon Brown that they expressed their disgust by breaking lifetime habits by voting Tory.

I’m in no doubt that this was a protest vote of the highest order. No one voted Tory in the hope of influencing the result of the next General Election. I will wager now that Crewe will revert to Labour in two years time. And no one voted Tory because of their policies. They have none!

So the result will create acres of newsprint over the next few weeks, will scare the pants of Labour MP’s with marginal seats and may spark some debate about Labour ditching Brown. But who for? No, I think Brown’s strategists will spend the next few months trying to keep a steady hand on the tiller and trying to soften his image. And praying there are no more by elections in Labour held seats!

The next by election will be in Henley (Boris’ seat) where Labour hardly figured last time - a very poor third - so no more damage can be done there! It’s up to us Libdems to oppose the Tory bandwagon effect. We finished second last time and have already chosen our candidate and opened our campaign HQ. Let’s see whether we can clip Cameron’s wings! My son lives down that way so I can see a bit more campaigning coming up!

If you see a few of us wandering around Stone in a dream this week, don’t worry! We’re just trying to come down to earth after a fantastic weekend at the Dartmouth Music Festival in South Devon!

A group of ten of us descended on Dartmouth last Friday and returned yesterday after having wallowed for three days in the most fantastic music. Classical, choral, jazz, bluegrass, rock, blues,folk - you name it, it was there! Most of our Stone group were there on a fact finding mission - they’re all involved in organising Stone first Music Festival in July ( July 10th to 13th) and I think they have had their eyes opened! Dartmouth’s Festival is in its eleventh year so Stone’s festival will obviously be on a much smaller scale. But at least we’ve seen what can be done. 110 acts playing over three days in 27 venues attracting an estimated 25,000 visitors to the town. Stone watch out! This could be us in a few years time!

This was my fourth Festival - Jan’s daughters live in Dartmouth - but was undoubtedly the best. Peter Price, blues guitarist; Snake Davis, saxophonist; Ian Briggs, harmonica par excellence were but three of the highlights for me. If ever we can persuade artists of the calibre to Stone then I’ll know that we’ve made it!

Oh - and six of the group had already booked accommodation for next year’s Festival before leaving yesterday morning! Yes, it’s that good!

The long running saga of the Stonefield Traffic Management Scheme seems to be reaching a conclusion. I have today received a letter from ‘Highways Staffordshire’ (new branding - new logo) explaining that they have considered all objections to the scheme and reached the following decisions.
The following proposals will be implemented: Traffic calming along Mount Avenue, Mount Street, Victor Street, Kings Avenue and Tunley Street. Stonefield area weight restriction and parking restrictions adjacent to Meaford level crossing.
All proposals for Northesk Street and Dominic Street have been abandoned(thanks to a superb campaign of opposition by residents supported by the Independent group on Stone Town Council)

The scheme will be extensively monitored with the collection of further traffic speed/volume and accident data and if required the one way orders for Victor Street, Kings Avenue and Tunley Street will be implemented (how’s that for a cop out?!)

Construction works are programmed for June 2008 and all affected frontagers will be notified.

Last night Mark Green was duly installed as the new Town Mayor for the next Civic year. Jill Hood was appointed Deputy Mayor. Mark’s wife Kristen will be the Mayoress and Steve, Jill’s husband, will be her consort. During the ceremony grateful thanks were extended to the outgoing Mayor, Phillip Leason and Deputy Mayor, Debbie Wakefield.

These occasions are meant to be happy and non contentious so it was rather sad that Cllr. Phillip Jones thought it appropriate to do a some party political grandstanding - much to the disgust of some councillors, amusement of most members of the public and apparent embarrassment of some of his own members.

That apart, the evening went very well and most councillors stayed on afterwards for a buffet supper provided by the new Mayor. I’m sure Mark and Kristen are going to be wonderful ambassadors for the town. Phillip and Edith Leason will be a hard act to follow but I’m sure the new Mayor and his wife are up for it! Best wishes to them both!

As I walked into town this morning I was amazed to see our ‘Streetscene operative’ - Kev to you and me! - proudly cleaning the street with a brand new Green Machine! OK - so it isn’t a ’sit on’ machine and Kev does have to push and steer it - but it’s better than him having to keep the town clean with just a litter picker and brush!

Although he was feigning indifference, I’m sure he’s actually rather taken with it! He was eager to show me the various bits of kit including a suction hose - so we should see fewer cigarette ends around the town. With flashing orange lights and a bleeping siren we should all know where to find Kev in future!

I’ve just heard some brilliant news! Jake Lowndes, a 19 year old chef at La Dolce Vita, has just won Third place in the Staffordshire Young Chef of Tomorrow Competition 2008.

Jake was shortlisted with three finalists from Alton Towers, one from Swinfen Hall near Lichfield and one from The Acton Trussell Moat House. Formidable competition indeed! So his achievement is all the more commendable. Well done, Jake!

And let’s hope that Jake’s is the first of many awards to chefs and restaurants in and around Stone in the near future.

Campaigning in a by election is never dull! Today I was busily feeding a mail folding  machine when who should come over to say ‘hello’ but Simon Hughes, the party President. Simon spent several hours in Crewe today and took part in a very successful walk about. It was only when he went to the station to catch his train back to London that it was realised that he’d left his case back at HQ - so Jan was detailed to pick it up and whizz across to deliver it to rather relieved MP!

It’s been a very good day on the campaign trail today. I must not reveal any figures but it’s no secret that each day the ‘powers that be’ set certain targets for the day. Well, today’s delivery rounds targets were met by 4.30 pm and still volunteers were pouring through the doors to deliver still more!

I’m beginning to think something exciting might happen in Crewe!

So I’m sitting at a desk in the Crewe and Nantwich by election office stuffing envelopes when a voice asks “How are you doing?”. I look up and there is Nick Clegg, the party leader, surrounded by a posse of TV camera crews and press photographers. I stood up,  shook his hand and mumbled something about ’stuffing’ - and then he was gone to the next table!

Which got me thinking that I must be getting old. I’ve now shaken the hand of five Libdem leaders - Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy, Ming Campbell, Vince Cable (OK - he was only ‘acting’ but I still regard him as the best leader we never had!) and now Nick Clegg.

Today was another good day at Crewe. Hordes of members from all across the country are now turning up and are dashing out delivering leaflets all over the constituency. And they are all enjoying the brilliant weather. Can it last to May 22nd?

Tonight I had a meeting in Stafford and got chatting with Barry Stamp. Barry and I have been good pals for many years. Indeed Barry is to blame for getting me back into active politics several years ago.

He mentioned that he reads my website regularly and that he has now decided to start his own blog. So if any of you want to keep an eye on what Barry is up to these days take a look at his blog. He describes his blog as “Regular updates - irregular comment”. This could be interesting!

By law, Stone Town Council has to hold and annual public meeting at which the Mayor presents a report of the previous twelve months. Tonight’s meeting was held at Stone Station and, sadly, was rather poorly attended.

Cllr. Philip Leason , the Town Mayor, gave his report and a member of the public raised a question about parking problems in the Stonefield area. I agreed to look into the issue and promised to report back to him. Ex councillor Harry Brunt also raised a couple of issues - follow ups to problems he had raised when he was on the council. I was very sad that Harry failed to get re-elected last year. He was a long serving, hard working councillor and the fact that he is still turning up to meetings like this to keep these issues ‘on the boil’  is proof that he is still committed to the town. Most defeated candidates are never heard of again until the next elections!

So forty minutes later I was able to rejoin my son, daughter-in-law and grandson for a drink in the sun at the Star. Very enjoyable!

As a lifelong Port Vale supporter (well I do remember how ‘we was robbed’ by a disallowed penalty decision against West Brom in the 1952 FA Cup semi-final!) I have to admit that tonight I agreed to go with my son to see Stoke’s victory parade in an open topped bus. Richard has always been a Stoke supporter and is ‘over the moon’ about them gaining promotion. He and the family have been up for the weekend so I agreed to go and watch the parade before a meeting tonight.

We went down to Trentham Road in Trentham but heard from a passer-by that the route had been changed. So we hotfooted it down to Stanley Matthews Way where we were just in time to see the bus parade go past. There were hundreds of folk lining the route and all dressed in red and white. A great sight and everyone clapping, cheering and smiling.

Well, stictly speaking, that’s not quite right. On the way back to the car we came across dozens of very disappointed and angry fans who had waited  on Longton Road expecting the parade to go past - as advertised in last night’s Sentinel. I suspect there will be some complaints directed at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow.

That apart, and putting aside my Port Vale allegiances, I am delighted for Stoke City fans and for the city itself. The prospect of Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal etc playing here next season is tantalising indeed. What a boost for the area.

Stone Town Band played their first concert in the amphitheatre on Crown Meadow this afternoon and what a delight it was! An audience of about fifty sat and enjoyed the music in warm sunshine and even had the opportunity of licking an ice cream! And  across the canal four new residents in Joules Court sat outside their french windows with a bottle of wine enjoying the free entertainment for two hours!

This is exactly the sort of use we had in mind at the Town Council when we decided to create the amphitheatre a couple of years ago. The Town Band have booked the venue for two more concerts during the summer and after the success of today’s concert I wouldn’t be surprised if other groups decided to do the same.

My goodness, Labour are running scared. Gwennyth Dunwoody’s funeral hasn’t even taken place yet and the Labour Party have moved the writ for the by election in Crewe and Nantwich. Polling day will be Thursday 22nd May - so it’s all hands to the pump!

An overnight email had me and Janet scurrying up the M6 this morning to Campaign HQ where we spent the day getting back into campaigning mode! Janet was out straight away delivering a tabloid election newspaper whilst I stayed in the office sorting out leaflets into walk rounds. Jan and I last helped out at a by election  a few years ago at Hodge Hill in Birmingham and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves for three weeks. This campaign will be much shorter so we’ll be up and down the motorway as often as we can.

I am very impressed with the premises being used in Crewe. The campaign is being run from a rather impressive office block on Fourth Avenue. Light and airy with plenty of space for all the volunteers and helpers - a complete contrast to the cramped shop premises used in Hodge Hill. And yet again I never cease to be amazed at the enthusiasm of Libdem members when there’s a by election to be fought. Local parties were well represented today with members from Shrewsbury, Warrington, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stafford, South Staffs and, of course, Stone. But in adddition members had travelled from Folkstone, London, Bristol and Exeter in the south and Gateshead in the north. And this just a couple of days after their own local elections had ended!

There was a great atmosphere today. Could we pull off another surprise in Crewe?

Sorry to bore you but - yet again - another dry day for Stone’s Farmers’ Market. The record still stands!

Forty one stallholders and several thousand people in town are testament to our proud claim that Stone now has the best Farmers’Market in Staffordshire. Compared to 23 stalls at Stafford last month Stone was really buzzing today! The Food and Drink Festival working group secured the attendance of Murphy’s Marbles to play outside The Lounge throughout the day and the crowds were still tapping their feet at five o’clock when we had to ask them to go home! The marquee company wanted to take the stall down and finish for the day!

Another successful day for the town. As one shopkeeper said to me as I left tonight  ” I wish we could have a Farmers’ Market every Saturday”!

There have been no elections here in Stafford Borough (we have all up elections every four years) so I’ve been able to view the national results from Thursday’s elections with some detachment.

It is blindingly obvious that Gordon Brown is an electoral disaster and that the appaling showing by the Labour Party is down to him. Last year’s dithering over calling a general election was just the start of a long list of errors culminating in the 10 p income tax fiasco. So it’s hardly surprising that Labour candidates up and down the country have been hammered by the voters.

Which leads me to suggest that the Tory party should not get too excited. They won nothing on Thursday on merit - this result was a revolt against Brown. No one voted for Tory policies because the Cameron hasn’t announced any yet. It seems that all areas of policy “are under review”.

And if my analysis needs any further proof then just look at the London Mayoral result! Our capital city is now to be run by that buffoon Boris! Oh dear, oh dear!

The good news is that Liberal Democrat candidates polled more votes than Labour and, at 25%, now occupy second place. Not the thrashing most pundits were forecasting!

The following applications relate to properties within Stonefield and Christchurch ward. For further details contact the Planning Officer at Stafford Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ or telephone 01785 619337 quoting the application number.

________________________________________________________________

Application Number: 08/10129/FUL           Type of Application:Full

Date registered: 1 May 2008                 Applicant: Mr Mark Jackson

Location:  75 High Street, Stone

Proposal: The work involves providing additional tubular steel roof edge protection to the two storey flat roof structure to the rear of the building

Case Officer: Mrs S Wright

Another example of Stafford Borough Council ‘hiding’ bad news is the unannounced decision to close the public toilets in Station Road. No statement has ever been issued about the proposed closure and the Town Council only became aware of it when Councillor Collier let slip the fact in a recent meeting.

Confirmation was received at a meeting yesterday when an officer of the Borough Council confirmed that the costs of running the Station Road toilets had been deleted from the Borough Council’s budgets for the forthcoming financial year. Councillor Collier’s remarks had alerted the Town Council to the issue and yesterday’s  meeting had been arranged to ascertain whether it would be possible for the Town Council to take on the responsibility of running these toilets.

Obviously there are financial implications and in view of the fact that this year’s budgets have already been fixed we may have some problems finding the resources to keep the toilets open. However, I believe that the Town Council will want to do everything in it’s power to save the Station Road facility so, again, watch this space!

Stafford Borough Council is very adept at issuing press releases about ‘good news’ but trying to find out the facts about the ‘not so good’ is like extracting teeth! Stone Town Council has been very concerned for some time about the lack of formal notification about the future of Stone in Bloom and the lack of any hard facts. So it was very useful that an informal meeting was convened yesterday between Borough Council officers and Town Council representatives on the former Stone in Bloom committee.

The officers were able to reassure us that Stafford Borough Council’s Streetscene Department will continue to supply flower displays in parks and flower borders etc., hanging baskets and barrier boxes as in previous years. However, neither Stafford nor Stone will be entered into any regional or national In Bloom competitions.

This is very sad. Stone has achieved some notable successes over the years in these competitions thanks to the hard work and dedication of a group of volunteers on the Stone in Bloom committee. The Borough’s own proposed ‘in house’ competitions will not carry the same weight - so, after the meeting,  we asked our Town Clerk to investigate the implications of Stone entering the regional In Bloom competeitions under it’s own steam. My own view is that if time is on our side and the cost is affordable, we should go for it. Watch this space!

Oh dear. You may remember me writing that I thought we’d solved the problem of the clash of dates on June 7th - Carnival Parade and Farmers’ Market. I did explain that the proposed route was subject to approval by Highways and the police - but I never expected any objection from either. It seemed to me that the proposal we’d  come up with would actually keep the traffic flowing more easily.

Wrong! Sadly the authorities were not in favour of the route down Crown Street and the parade will therefore have to go down the least preferred option - the old route down Christchurch Way. I am very disappointed.

Last night the ballroom of the Crown Hotel was packed for the Town Mayor’s Civic Dinner. This event is almost always the last event in the civic year and allows the outgoing Mayor to reflect upon his year of office.

Philip Leason has peformed his duties with great dignity and energy. He and Edith have attended well over 100 functions and have have been great ambassadors for the town. So it was good to see them both relaxed and enjoying their night.

The speeches were short and entertaining especially Bill Cash’s pronunciation of Joules - “Jooles”! I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again! Winston Leese responded to the toast of “The Guests” and endorsed his reputation as a very amusing and interesting speaker. I seriously am not being political but I roared when Winston managed to weave The Treaty of Lisbon and the R word - Referendum - into a remark about Stone whilst addressing his comments to Bill!

And a little bird tells me that the raffle and a Heads and Tails collection has raised a very tidy sum for the Mayors Charities. Congratulations Phillip and Edith.

Last night Stone’s Youth Cafe, The Den, was opened up for inspection by the grown ups - especially those who had helped to make it happen! And that’s why it was so full by eight o’clock! The support from the local community has been quite amazing and this was the young folks chance to say ‘Thank You’ and to show off the hard work that they have put in to create a wonderful venue.

A team of young folk worked tirelessly behind the bar providing an endless supply of teas, coffees and refreshments whilst further refreshments had to be laid out in the adjacent St Michael’s suite. Everyone was impressed by the work that has been carried out and I’m sure the Den is going to become a valuable asset for the young folk in the town.

And there was one surprise! The Town Mayor, Philip Leason, used his short speech as the opportunity to present a very special award to PC Andy Whitehall. I’ve mentioned Andy often on this site so I don’t need to repeat how respected this guy is in the town. So much so that Philip decided that rather than present a Town Council Merit Plate to Andy in the Council Chamber it would be far more appropriate to make the presentation in front of the young folk. It was a fitting tribute and warmly applauded by everyone present.

As Chairman of the Food and Drink Festival, I get quite a few tough assignments - and yesterday was no exception! Together with Jill Hood and Pam Graham I had to endure a visit to a factory making - wait for it - hand made chocolates! Now I’ve been on a diet for over two months and not one piece of chocolate has passed my lips - but I have to admit that I failed badly yesterday!

We had driven down to Bridgnorth where we met Louis Barnett, an amazing 16 year old, who had started making chocolate in his parent’s garage at the age of 14. He appeared on several TV programmes and now, two years on, Louis heads a team which includes his mum and dad, producing the most delicious and beautiful chocolates in a small industrial unit which already is bursting at the seams. Louis is dyslexic so it is no coincidence that the company is called Chokolit!

We went to persuade Louis to come to the Food and Drink Festival and to demonstrate how hand made chocolate are made. I think we achieved our objective but more importantly, I think we also persuaded him to let us find an outlet here in North Staffordshire for him to stock his products! It’s a fair way to Bridgnorth every time we want to buy some! So I’m going to speak to a contact of mine in the hope that Louis’ delights will be available much nearer to home!

Janet is very patient with me. I’m sure she thought that once I had fully retired we’d spend time doing what normal retired people do! Gardening, days out walking in Derbyshire and going off in the caravan at weekends. Little did she realise that when I became a local politician and an organiser of a food and drink festival I would have even less time at home than when I was working!

So when a friend of ours suggested that we have a caravanning weekend together I immediately said “Yes” and looked forward to a couple of nights and three days away from it all. So on Friday we hitched up and went down to Tewkesbury. We’ve had a super weekend and I have to admit that I’ve been able to forget Stone problems for a bit!

But on looking at my emails on getting home today, I see that I received an important and urgent email from Libdem headquarters last Friday evening. It concerned the forthcoming by- election which will soon be held in Crewe and Nantwich following the death last week of  Gwenneth Dunwoody, the Labour MP. Unfortunately, I opened the email half an hour after the deadline for replies. That’ll teach me to take a weekend off to go eating, drinking and enjoying myself.

Yesterday Stone’s Youth Cafe, the Den, was officially opened for business. Local police officer Andy Whitehall had been invited by the young folk to perform the official opening ceremony - a fact which speaks volumes for the high esteem and respect that Andy holds amongst the youngsters.

Over the last few weeks the Walton Suite in the Frank Jordan Centre has been transformed into the Den. Building works and the forming of the cafe bar has been carried out by builders and joiners but most of the refurbishment and decoration has been done by the young folk themselves. It is a fantastic venue and I have no doubts at all about its future. I’m convinced that the kids are going to make the venture a great success. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Every morning I log on to the Into Stone website just to see what’s going on and to keep up to date with topics on the Forum. The other day I came across a posting from a Stone resident who has insatlled a webcam into a blue tits nest in his garden and is transmitting live pictures of the birds building their nest.

A real gem! Take a look at the site here to see the latest pictures and for details of how the camera was set up.

On Friday  Janet and I thoroughly enjoyed the BBC Philarmonic Orchestra concert in the Victoria Hall in Hanley. We have season tickets and have sat in the same seats for years. We really are so lucky in this area. The Stoke Festival season brings orchestras such as the BBC, the CBSO and the Halle to Hanley on a regular basis - culture on our doorstep!

The Victoria Hall was, of course, refurbished at considerable expense some years ago and is now an outstanding venue. Sir Malcolm Sargent was heard to say that it was his favourite venue and Sir Adrian Boult reckoned on it having the best accoustics of any hall he’d played. So it was with interest that yesterday Jan and I caught a bus and train to Birmingham to see another recently refurbished concert hall, Birmingham Town Hall. Jan’s nephew James, aged 13, was playing trumpet the National Childrens Orchestra. Wow! What a hall and what a concert!

I don’t know how much has been spent on the renovation but they have created a marvellous hall. This is a far cry from the hall I remember from the 60’s - Chris Barber, Lonnie Donnegan et al!

But it was the orchestra that took my breath away. Over a hundred children playing a full classical venue. James is only 13 and the maximum age was 14 - but on closing your eyes you’d be hard pressed to spot the difference between them and a full time professional orchestra. Seriously, if you ever get the chance to hear them - go!

(And just in case you wondering - public transport turned up trumps again! I’ve already praised the 101 bus and trains to Birmingham before and they didn’t let us down yesterday either! Stafford to Birmingham in 32 minutes for £7.90 return!)

It’s a hard life but someone has to do it! First of all, Jill Hood and I had to head off to The George at Eccleshall but this was purely on business. We had been invited over to meet a group of people who are trying to set up a committee to promote Eccleshall and they thought we might be able to give them some tips and advice. It was interesting to talk with them and to learn that they are encountering the same sort of issues and queries that we have had to deal with here in Stone. I’m not too sure we were able to help them very much but they seemed very grateful for the chat.

Then it was up to The Brushmaker’s Arms at Oulton to join a group of ‘Brush afficienados’ to celebrate the CAMRA award of the title of Pub of the Month. In my book, the pub deserves a permanent award - it’s one of the last remaining old fashioned pubs. Quarry tile floor, scrubbed tables, no juke box or gaming machines and fantastic real ales. Being a free house the guest ales keep changing at regular intervals and are kept superbly. And on top of all that, Mark and Dianne are such excellent hosts. What more could you ask for? Congratulations to them both.

Over the last few years, Jill Hood and I have visited Ludlow on several occasions to pick up tips for the Food and Drink Festival and today we set off again on our familiar journey. The purpose, this time, was to attend a seminar organised by Graham Perkins, former Vice Chair of the Ludlow Food Festival and who now runs a company called Skillbuilders.

The great benefit of theses types of event is the networking that takes place with other people and organisations involved in similar activities to ours. So we made some very useful contacts indeed - a lady who runs a Beer Shop in Ludlow; the organiser of another Food Festival in Shropshire; a representative of the The Prince’s Trust and a member of the staff at Companies House.

But the most interesting part of the day was left to the end. A guided tour ‘behind the scenes’ at the venue for the seminar - the Ludlow Food Centre. Only opened a year ago, this purpose built centre promotes local food. A large food hall supplies all manner of locally sourced produce. But for me the most interesting part of the tour was to take a look at the workshops which the ordinary visitor can view through large windows in the shop. We were shown the bakery, the butchers shop and the two large meat stores, the cheese and butter making dairy, the coffee roasting workshop, the pickle and jam kitchen and the general store room.

If you are ever down that way do call in. It’s a fascinating place.

I’d never been to a book launch before this year and last night I went to my second in a month! A month or so ago I attended Peter Holland’s launch of a book of poetry. Last night’s affair was very different! Somehow (and I’m still not sure how!) Dave Smithwick had managed to arrange for Stone to host the launch of Tommy Smith’s autobiography entitled ‘Anfield Iron’. And not only did the Liverpool legend Tommy turn up but we also had three other football legends to entertain us - Ian Callaghan, Terry Conroy and Joey Jones.

There was a full house in the The Crown Hotel ballroom and after an excellent meal we were entertained to some wonderful stories and jokes about players and managers to the point where my sides were becoming painful.

I have a suspicion we may see some of these speakers back again - and if one of them is Joey Jones I’ll be first in the queue for tickets!

The tow path improvement scheme is nearly completed and yesterday I noticed workmen on the other side of the canal as I was parking on Crown Street car park. I popped over and had a chat. They were just finishing a short section of path to join Trent Close and the towpath and they assured me that they would also be lowering the kerb.

This short path is important because it will allow disabled access to the tow path from Trent Close and Crown Meadow. Last year the Town Council installed the bridge into Crown Meadow by the river - so there will now be a through path right to the picnic tables outside the Star!

And today I’ve just been down again to check and the job’s complete - including the dropped kerb!

Yesterday I received a telephone message from a near neighbour inviting me up the road to see a peacock that had arrived in her garden. Having listened to Radio 4’s Breakfast programme telling the story of the RSPB ‘repatriating’ over staying summer visitors by providing members with bird traps and having been told of BBC television’s film of flying penguins, I assumed that my neighbour was also playing an avian April Fool joke on me!

Today I’ve discovered that she genuinely did have a peacock in her garden! Apparantly it had been around for two days and had found a cozy corner next to her house to roost overnight. After she had called the police, the Borough Council and the RSPCA to no avail, she eventually heard that the trout farm on the Longton Road kept a peacock! A quick phone call and a very relieved trout farmer owner was soon up Nicholls Lane to reclaim the rather subdued escapee!

I stood on the scales this morning and I’m delighted to announce that I now weigh 14 stone 1 pound! Yes, I’ve lossed two stone and two stones in the last two months and have therefore exceeded the target of my sponsored slim. When I started the slim in aid of PC Andy Whitehall’s boxing project for the young folk, The Right Stuff, I was sixteen stone three and, I must confess, I did wonder whether I was being a bit ambitious in promising to lose two stones in two months.

However I’ve found the secret for anyone wanting to lose weight! Tell everybody what you’re doing and go public in the biggest way possible! I think everyone in Stone has heard about my sponsored slim! I just couldn’t be seen to fail, could I?

And thanks to so many generous sponsors I expect to be handing over almost £400 to Andy in the next few days for him to buy more equipment for The Right Stuff. Thanks to everyone for their generosity. It’s still not too late to contribute!

My Sponsored Slim ends tomorrow evening (The big weigh in is on Tuesday morning -  watch this space!) so I decided a bit of execise was required today! Walking boots and cagoule on and off over the Plott, down to the canal and along the tow path to Wedgwood.

Many people have spoken to me about the state of the towpath at Meaford but I never realised just how atrocious it is. It is barely passable even in proper walking gear. I’ve walked and ran this towpath for over fifty years and it’s always been a problem - but never as bad as it is now. Thank goodness Stafford Borough Council are hoping to work up a scheme with the developers of the old Meaford Power station site, St. Modwen, and Sustrans to do something about it. This section is the last piece of the jigsaw because the towpaths out of Stone are all reasonably good and the one north of Barlaston is wonderful - all the way to Stoke. So the sooner this project gets the ‘go ahead’ the better.

So, with sodden and muddy trousers, I left the canal at Wedgwood and made my way over the fields to Barlaston where I took a break on a new seat on the Green. Imagine my delight when I read a plaque that the seat was dedicated to Jack Dando, a Parish and Borough Councillor, who died last year. Jack was a stalwart in the Stone Liberal Democrats and a dear friend to us all. I am delighted that a permanent reminder of Jack now graces the Green and enables folk to sit and enjoy a view that hasn’t changed in years and which Jack did so much to protect.

And so it was back over the Downs Banks to home where a hot bath eased some aching limbs! And afterwards I sneaked onto the scales - but you’ll have to wait until Tuesday for that bit of information!

Last week, two events occurred which again highlighted the problems facing traders in Radford Street. For years, shopkeepers and owners of businesses here have tried to keep their heads above water despite doing business on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’, that is, on the far side of the one way system. Cut off from the rest of the town, they have felt that they are often forgotten or ignored when things happen in the rest of town.

A good example was when Radford Street businesses were initially excluded from the MTI Shop Front Improvement Scheme. It was only after some serious behind the scenes lobbying (and a threat to resign from the Board of the MTI) that I was able to get the rules changed to include Radford Street businesses.

At last week’s Town Council Planning meeting, we were asked to comment on an application for change of use to enable a young lady to start up a nail and beauty salon in a shop that has been empty for months. I was staggered when one of my colleagues spoke to object on the grounds that we had enough of those sort of shops already! I took issue with that view stating that we should encourage and support any young person trying to set up a business in the town. Rather another beauty salon than an empty shop. I’m pleased to report all other speakers agreed with me.

And then on Saturday I popped into Mason’s Menswear and was saddened to hear that Les Mason will be closing down in six weeks time. Les is 65 this year and has been thinking of retirement for a while. Although he had hoped to carry on for a while longer he says that it is becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet - so sadly Stone will lose another old established business.

I don’t know the answer to Radford Street’s problems. Yes, of course, the bypass should have been built up Margaret Street and across to Northesk Street to join up with Christchurch Way thereby keeping the bottom end of Radford Street in the pedestrianised part of town - but that’s history and will never happen now. So what can be done? I’m sure a marketing campaign might help. If the traders could be persuaded to pool resources it might be possible to raise public awareness of the shops there. And we should all make a point of using Radford Street businesses when we can especially as they are now accessed so easily from the new Christchurch Way car park.

Any other ideas?

Last night Janet asked if I knew what had been happening at Morrisons filling station yesterday.She had tried to get on to fill up but had been directed away by firemen. The station was closed and a fire tender with flashing blue lights was in attendance.

Well, today, I found out! Whilst in town I met a good friend of mine who shall remain nameless. Earlier in the week he had taken his rather elderly campervan up to the Potteries to have a new petrol tank fitted. Yesterday he popped down to Morrisons to fill it up but when he had put in over sixty pounds worth he thought something must be wrong! Then he realised he was standing in petrol which was gushing out from under his vehicle! It would seem that the garage had failed to properly connect a seal.

Petrol everywhere! Forecourt evacuated. Cars abandoned. Fire brigade called. Emergency procedures activated. Garage closed for four hours. And a very red faced friend. As his son might say - ” Another fine mess you gotten yourself into!”

You will recall that last weekend Jill Hood and I went down to the Youth Centre to create a tile for the Food and Drink Festival and which will be used with many others on the piece of artwork to be placed in Westbridge Park. Yesterday afternoon we went back to find our tile had been fired in a kiln and was ready for painting.

I was so bad at art at school that I wasn’t even allowed to sit for an ‘O’ level - so I thought I’d pulled a bit of a flanker when I arrived to find Jill already seated at the table painting away! I had visions of drinking coffee and having a chat. Wrong! The lads from the Den, Stone’s Youth Cafe, were unable to attend so I was delegated to paint their tile. Thankfully it was a relatively simple design and, although I say it myself, it did look rather good when it was finished!

Of course, I’d not read the written instructions before starting and caused quite a bit of mayhem. I was drinking coffee at the table when I shouldn’t - paint is toxic! And I went and fetched a bottle of paint from the far end of the table - I should have taken my tile and painted it there! But everyone was very understanding and sympathetic!

Yet again there was a super turn out and it was grand to see so many people getting involved. I reckon that there should be upards of two hundred tiles and I am assured every one will be used. And I know which is my favourite! A six year old called Josh who has produced a wonderful tile. When the work is finished have a look at it!

The following applications relate to properties within Stonefield and Christchurch ward. For further details contact the Planning Officer at Stafford Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ or telephone 01785 619337 quoting the application number.

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Application Number: 08/753/FUL           Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 13 March 2008                 Applicant: Mr Kevin Turner

Location:  24 Kings Avenue, Stone

Proposal: Replacement of pre fabricated concrete garage used for storage/workshop with woodenshed for use as storage/workshop.

Case Officer: Ms T Brown

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Application Number: 08/934/FUL           Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 13 March 2008                 Applicant: WS & PR Johnson

Location:  17 The Avenue, Stone

Proposal: Replacement of railings to front boundary.

Case Officer: Ms S Brown

I’ve been a member of the North Staffs Rail Promotion Group for several years now and there can be no doubt that much of the credit for the return of a stoppping service at Stone Station later this year is due to the hard work of this group. Last night’s meeting in Stone Station was a good example of the type of work they do.

We heard that stations on the Crewe - Stoke - Derby line would all soon have electronic passenger information boards; that representations were being made to include a late service into Stoke and that the Department of Transport had indicated that there were no plans to re-open Barlaston station. There are several members who know the rail industry inside out and it is fascinating (and reassuring) to hear arguments based on facts which are not widely available. I’m sure that the Department will soon be receiving further arguments on the latter two issues!

The meeting was also very useful because I was able to announce my intention to try to launch a ‘Friends of Stone Station’ group and to announce that the first meeting would be held in Stone Station on Wednesday 23rd April at 7.30 pm. The news was received with much enthusiasm and offers of help. I came away confident that the formation of a  ‘Friends’ group would be a positive step forward in promoting the station and the new service.

Whilst I was in town this morning, I was stopped by a gentleman who  said he just wanted to thank me and congratulate me about this website! He told me that he looked at it everyday because in his words “I can learn more about what’s going on in town than I can from all the local papers put together.”

 Wow! What a criticism of our local newspapers!

Last night Janet and I went up to Alleynes School having volunteered to help to supervise a ‘gig’ organized by the young people helping to set up the Den, the new youth cafe. The evening was to raise funds for the Den and consisted of six bands playing in the main hall.

Well, I’ve never heard such a racket! Janet and I were asked to marshall the fire door near to the stage entrance so there was no escape! From seven until ten thirty we were bombarded by a throbbing assault on our ear drums! I am told that six different bands took to the stage but I could tell no difference! The some monotonous drum beat and bass lines!

But the kids absolutely loved it! About 150 teenagers spent the whole evening thrashing around (oops, sorry - dancing!) and the whole lot ended with what appeared to be a mass brawl! All apparently normal at such events and good humoured - and no-one injured!

Oh, I am really getting old!! And last night I felt it! However, everyone else enjoyed it and it was a great success with almost £300 raised for the Den. But next time I’m asked to help out at a ‘gig’ I might have a prior engagement!

I’ve attended many funerals at Stafford Crematorium and, like most people, have often wondered what exactly happens ‘behind the curtain’. Well, today I was able to find out. Borough councillors were given the opportunity of a guided tour and very interesting it was, too.

The ‘crem’ is about to undergo a major refurbishment to lift it out of its 1960’s decor and to improve the facilities for the bereaved. The work is to be carried out over the next few months in a phased timing designed to ensure no disruption to services.

The ‘working parts’ were extremely interesting and surprisingly clinical and clean. I’m not sure what I was expecting but I came away very impressed with the procedures. Open Days are held each year so if any member of the public wishes to ‘do the tour’, look out for the advertisement.

This afternoon I took a trailer load of garden waste up to the Household Recycling Centre in Opal Way where I was assisted by the usual gang of very helpful and polite assistants. Our brown wheelie bin was already full as Jan has spent the last few days in the garden clearing up ready for the Spring.

After the lads had helped us to unload, they handed us a leaflet setting out new opening times with effect from 31st March. The major change is that the site will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (not Wednesdays and Thursdays as now). However on the days that Stone is closed I note that the Stafford site in St. Albans Road will be open.

And throughout the summer (i.e. until the end of British Summer Time) on the days when the site is open, the opening hours will be from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Janet had not seen the site before and was extremely impressed. She has been saving our empty Tetrapacs (fruit juice cartons) and was delighted to find a recycling bin solely for them! I can see more trips are in store!

Last night, after a meeting of Stone’s Independent Voice members in the Station, we called into The Talbot which had just re-opened following a major refurbishment. And what a transformation! Obviously Enterprise Inns have invested heavily on the refurb. Open plan, bright and comfortable with four handpulls - the pub is hardly recognisable! In recent years Enterprise have gained few friends with their pubs seeming to change hands with regular monotony. A couple of months ago at least four pubs in this ward had “To Let”signs fixed outside. So it is very reassuring that the company has recognised the potential of the Talbot and spent some money on it. With the Station Community Centre, just down the road,  being a regular venue for many of our meetings I anticipate several return visits!

But on a very personal level, why do modern pubs have to be so noisy? Blaring background music, a massive flat screen television with a football commentary and a jangling fruit machine all combined to ensure that this old man missed most of the conversation at our table! I am obviously about to join the ‘One Foot in the Grave’ fan club!

I am very curious. I have looked at the management corner of this site to discover that February set a few records! Since I started the site in mid Novemeber, I’ve written over 100 postings. The site has received over 7500 hits with over 2800 of them during the month of February!

So obviously some people are interested in the comings and goings of a rather busy local politician! Sorry, I won’t bore you with any more statistics in future!

Yesterday I had to go to Birmingham for a mid morning meeting and decided to leave the car at home and ‘risk’ using public transport. I needn’t have worried - it was superb!

Using my bus pass (one of the perks of reaching a certain age!) I caught a 101 service bus which arrived in Granville Square right on the dot of the timetabled time. After a smooth journey to Stafford, I got off outside the railway station and bought my ticket (£7.90 return!) and walked through onto Platform One. I asked the Virgin attendant when the next train to Birmingham was due to be told that it was just arriving! A clean, quiet and smooth new Cross Country unit pulled up, I hopped on and immediately found a seat. After the one stop at Wolverhampton I was soon gettin off in Birmingham with an hour to kill!

And the return journey was just as good! The train for Stafford was pulling up as I reached the platform at New Street and it then proceeded to Stafford non stop! As I was walking out of the station I saw the 101 coming over the bridge by Victoria Park. A short trot and I was at the bus stop as it pulled up!

So next time I have to make the same journey I’ll be using the buses and trains again. But what a pity the train service we’ll be getting in the autumn from Stone station won’t be a direct service to Birmingham

The following applications relate to properties within Stonefield and Christchurch ward. For further details contact the Planning Officer at Stafford Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ or telephone 01785 619337 quoting the application number.

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Application Number: 08/09749/FUL          Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 15 February2008                 Applicant: M Dooley

Location:  Land at Church Street, Stone

Proposal: Erection of 6 No. Residential apartments in 2-3 storey building

Case Officer: Mrs K Wilson

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Application Number: 08/09800/FUL                Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 18 February 2008                 Applicant: Miss Levingstone

Location:  16 Kings Avenue, Stone

Proposal: Proposed sitting room extension.

Case Officer: Ms T Brown

You may remember that at the moment I am on a sponsored diet to raise funds for PC Andy Whitehall’s boxing project for the young folk - The Right Stuff. It is my ambition to raise at least £250 by losing two stones in weight before the first of April. And I’m well on target. I’ve raised over £200 now and have lost 1 stone 3 lbs - so I’ve about five weeks to get rid of the last eleven pounds!

But this week has been a bit of a struggle! On Wednesday evening I was the guest speaker at a meeting of Stone Inner Wheel Club at the Stone House Hotel. I had been asked to speak about the Food and Drink Festival and invited to eat dinner with them beforehand! Thank goodness I was on a ‘red’ day! A good portion of very tender chicken and some well cooked fresh vegetables enabled me to stick more or less to my regime - but perhaps the delicious, rather thick and creamy soup beforehand is best not mentioned!

And then yesterday Janet and I were guests at the Annual Luncheon of the Midland’s branch of the Showmans Guild in Wolverhampton. What a do! Almost every Mayor and Local Authority Chairman in the Midlands was there - I’ve never seen so many chains in one room! We were guests of a good friend of Stone, Fred Warwick , who has been bringing his fair to Stone for forty years. What hospitality! I deliberately chose to be on another ‘red’ day and it was a shrewd move. Roast beef aplenty and a few vegetables  ensured that I didn’t offend my host!

However the scales this morning are static! A hard few days ahead!

The following applications relate to properties within Stonefield and Christchurch ward. For further details contact the Planning Officer at Stafford Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ or telephone 01785 619337 quoting the application number.

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Application Number: 08/09730/ADV              Type of Application: Application to display Adverts

Date registered: 12 February2008                 Applicant: Sukhi Kaur

Location:  Subway, 2 Mill Street, Stone

Proposal: Signage

Case Officer: Ms S Brown

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Application Number: 08/09724/ADV               Type of Application: Application to display Adverts

Date registered: 12 February 2008                 Applicant: Mr Ross McCourt

Location:  Filleybrooks Service Station, Stone

Proposal: Erection of 1 no internally illuminated, double sided, free standing advertisement display unit on forecourt.

Case Officer: Mrs K Wilson

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Application Number: 08/09776/FUL              Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 13 February2008                 Applicant: J White

Location:  40 Coppice Gardens, Stone

Proposal: Two storey side extension providing garage with bedroom over. Bay window and porch extension to front, single storey rear extension  providing utility and conservatory.

Case Officer: Ms T Brown

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Application Number: 08/09786/FUL             Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 14 February2008                 Applicant: Mr and Mrs T Bunn

Location:  7 Mount Crescent, Stone

Proposal: Single storey extension to rear and side of existing dwelling for replacement garage and kitchen extension together with new vehicular access from Mount Crescent

Case Officer: Mrs K Wilson

Reading the front page of last week’s Newsletter, I was taken aback by the headline “£14,000 spent on Whitebridge marina survey”. Oh no, I thought, just like London buses, you haven’t got a single marina one moment and then the prospect of three being built takes place within weeks! Planning permission has already been granted for one south of town at Aston and there have benn hints and rumours that the Borough Council are about to announce plans for another in Westbridge Park. Surely there’s no demand for a third at Whitebridge, north of the town? But no, all’s well. The Newsletter was confusing Whitebridge with Westbridge and the story itself was all about the Borough Council paying consultants to see whether a marina in Westbridge Park is a practical proposal.

Apparently the results were positive and the Environment Agency has approved the report subject to ‘flood defence work’ being carried out on the canal. This is good news. There have been so many rumours about what is going on behind the scenes about future developments on Westbridge Park that it is reassuring to actually hear some hard facts. We all know that there have been several surveys over the last couple of years (the latest only a couple of weeks ago) at a cost, on my calculation, of over £50,000. It’s time we we were told what’s going on!

Do you remember my sponsored slimming camapign? Well, three weeks down the line and I’m half way there - I’ve lost exactly one stone! The first weeks were relatively easy but I’ve now reached the stage where my stomach rumbles after a meal - not just before! So I expect the last stone to be much harder work.

And the sponsorship is well on target. I am very confident indeed that I shall be able to hand over a sum well in excess of the £250 to Andy Whitehall.

Perhaps the meeting on the towpath today will be the last! I had hoped that today we would achieve a consensus as to where the ‘artwork’ (see my previous posts) would be positioned and what form it would take. Sadly, there were as many different opinions as persons present so I’m not sure how this will all turn out!

Perhaps I’m a cynic but I got the distinct impression that this belated consultation exercise is actually a bit of flannel. We discovered that the three ’selected’ schools had already had their workshop and had already produced over a hundred tiles to be used in the artwork. Whilst funding had now been obtained to arrange a further workshop for the schools previously left out, the artist let it be known that he already had enough tiles to do the job!

And as to the shape of the artwork itself, the artist appeared to be adamant that he was going to create a seat - despite the fact that the only point most people present were agreed upon was that we definately did not want a seat.

Oh well, perhaps I’m just in a grumpy mood today!

I’ve just taken a look at the hit counter and had a surprise! In January this site received 1849 hits! This is almost twice the number from when the site went live in November. Thanks and best wishes to everyone who comes to the site.

Don’t forget that you can comment on any of my postings. Just click on ‘comment ?’ under the heading.

I received an email this morning from the Senior Waste Management Officer this morning telling me that the new blue recycling bins are going to be delivered in Stonefield and Christchurch ward over the next week. And, a couple of hours later as I was delivering the lunches for the Age Concern Luncheon Club, I drove past three very large lorries loaded high with the bins in Newcastle Road.

The introduction of the blue bins and the associated fortnightly household waste collection has been rather controversial, to say the least. Personally, I don’t think it will cause Janet and me any major problems. We are avid recyclers and compost everything compostable anyway. I do however understand the concerns especially of large families. This is clearly an issue that will need to be carefully monitored.

The email from the Borough Council did state that if anyone has any queries they should contact the Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 01785 619873

Last night’s Borough Council meeting provided the perfect example of the Tory’s view of democracy. In their book, democracy means that you win control and then adopt the ‘winner takes all’ philosophy. You stifle debate and use your majority to force through two important issues in under fifty minutes.

The first major debate was in relation to the debacle about appointing a new Chief Executive. As regular readers will know, the appointments process was put ‘on hold’ after it was announced that Cannock Chase District Council had approached Stafford with a view to sharing back office functions and possibly the position of Chief Executive. Then, within days, Cannock Chase very publicly called off the discussions.

Not surprisingly, the Labour group put down a question to allow a debate to take place about the whole embarrassing situation. Under the ten minute rule, it was possible to extend the time limit but - no - the Conservatives out voted the proposal to extend time. So all we really learnt was that the discussions with Cannock were back on as were discussions with ‘another local authority’. And the Tory leader tried to explain away the problem by referring to the approach from Cannock as being ‘informal’. That’s the first time I’d heard that description and I don’t recall it being so described in any press releases! So ten minutes was all that allowed to discuss this important issue - well, actually that’s not quite right because the Tory leader managed to keep talking for at least another minute after her allotted time. What a shambles!

And the budget debate was over and done with in the blink of an eye! It seems that the Tory mantra is ” we’ve presented a balanced budget”. Of course they have! They are required, by law, to do so! Whilst I do have some sympathy for the Tories who are having to balance the books after an appalling government settlement, the facts are very simple. Their stubbornness in refusing to levy a proper level of Council Tax in the last four years has come back to haunt them. And I hate to think how they can now hope to balance the books over the next few years.

Well, it’s the end of the first week of my sponsored slim in aid of Andy Whitehall’s ‘The Right Stuff’ boxing club. And I’m fairly pleased with myself! A week ago I weighed in at 16 stone 3 pounds and this morning the scales showed 15 stone 11 pounds - a loss of six pounds! And, people are being very generous in their sponsorship. I’m only half way down the first page and already the total is almost £100. So far so good!

But I have a confession to make. Last Friday Jan had tired herself out in the garden and I’d had another busy day. So we treated ourselves to a meal out. It’s been a long time since we ate at The Blue Rooms so we gave it a try. A fantastic meal! Good simple honest home cooked food - and was it good! I had George’s home made Steak and Mushroom Pie (yes - with hand-cut chips) and Janet had Steak and Onion. Both were superb. I had a starter (I daren’t tell you what it was!) and Jan a sweet. A bottle of good red wine and  a super evening. I won’t do it again until the Sponsored Slim is over, I promise you! There was an element of ‘the condemned man ate a hearty meal’ to the evening!

The following applications relate to properties within Stonefield and Christchurch ward. For further details contact the Planning Officer at Stafford Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ or telephone 01785 619337 quoting the application number.

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Application Number: 08/09590/FUL                Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 23 January 2008                 Applicant: Mr and Mrs D Reay

Location:  137 Newcastle Road, Stone

Proposal:Two storey extension at rear of dwelling..

Case Officer: Ms T Brown

I’ve just emailed the Borough Council officer  responsible for the Christchurch Way car park in the hope that he can quickly resolve a potential major problem. This morning a resident of Bromfield Court phoned me to say the a 38 ton HGV lorry had parked overnight on the car park alongside the boundary with her property. And at 4 a.m. my complainant was awoken by the sound of the lorry’s engine as it was driven away.

We’ve had problems with overnight sleepers before. A campervan has been using the car park on several occasions. I was assured that a height barrier was to be installed but, to date, the entrance is wide open.

So I’ve contacted the Borough again pointing out the problem and asking for the barrier to be installed without delay. The nearby residents have suffered enough with the various problems around the building of this car park. This latest incident is really distressing for them.

The following applications relate to properties within Stonefield and Christchurch ward. For further details contact the Planning Officer at Stafford Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ or telephone 01785 619337 quoting the application number.

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Application Number: 08/09606/FUL                Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 15 January 2008                 Applicant: Mr S Harrison

Location:  1 Mount Avenue, Stone

Proposal: Construction of conservatory at rear of dwelling.

Case Officer: Ms T Brown

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Application Number: 08/09611/FUL            Type of Application: Full  

Date registered: 16 January 2008                 Applicant: Mr and Mrs Hagemeijer.

Location: 144 Oulton Road, Stone

Proposal: Proposed two storey side and rear extension

Case Officer: Ms S Brown

Stone town centre is served by several car parks, some owned by Stafford Borough Council, two leased by the Town Council and two operated by the supermarkets. Whilst all the locals knew where they were, it was brought to our attention some time ago that visitors to the town would have severe difficulties in finding the car parks because there was no signage anywhere around the town.

So a couple of months ago, I  and a couple of other town councillors walked around the town with a representative of the County Council’s Highways Department examining the problem and suggesting solutions. Within a few weeks, Highways came back to us with detailed suggestions which provided for signs around the one way system and also from the A34. We were happy to agree the proposals (particularly as Highways had agreed to fund the project!) and this week - lo and behold - the signs have gone up!

Visitors will now be able to find somewhere to park without difficulty. A big Thank You to everyone involved!

The other day I  had an email from Andy Whitehall. You may recall that a couple of months ago Andy, a local police constable, raised over two thousand pounds for the Youth Cafe by organising a Sparathon in which he ‘took on’ twenty youths for a two minute round in  a boxing ring - with just a one minute break between rounds. And he survived!

I’ve no doubt that Andy went home afterwards and was glad that it was all over. Well, it wasn’t! The lads so much enjoyed the event itself and the weeks of training prior to the day that they want to form  regular boxing sessions. So Andy has agreed to set up a project called “The Right Stuff” to provide the kids with the opportunity of taking part in training as amateur boxers. Aimed at youngsters in the 10 to 20 age group who are involved in anti social behaviour or criminal activity, they will be provided with boxing tuition free of charge in return for signing good behaviour contracts and taking part in projects to improve the local community.

This is a fantastic project which I am convinced will be extremely successful in helping to reduce many of the problems surrounding young people in the town so I am eager to help Andy as much as I can.

He needs £1200 to buy gloves and kit. I am going to suggest that the Town Council makes a grant towards this sum but I have decided to try and raise as much as I can by going on a sponsored slim! After all the festivities over the Christmas period, I now weigh in at 16 stone 3 pounds - and I’m only five foot ten! Yes, I am seriously overweight. So I have set myself a target of losing two stones in ten weeks. And the more people who sponsor me, the greater the incentive to achieve the target! So please don’t be surprised if I thrust a sponsorship form in front of you next time I meet you. And I will report back on this website each week with a progress report!

The Town Council’s budget proposals for the next financial year were agreed at a meeting of the Budget Sub Committee last night. The recommendations will be placed before the General Purposes Committee next Tuesday for ratification. And everyone seems happy with the outcome!

Next year the Council will support the Cycle Race, the Music Festival and several other events in the town. We shall refurbish all Town Council owned bus shelters and we shall create a disabled friendly footpath across Crown Meadow.

And the really good news is that we shall be able to do all these things, and more, without any significant increase in the precept. In fact, after factoring into the calculation the number of rateable properties in the town, the average Band D council tax payer will see  a zero increase  in the Town Council payment next year. Now that’s better news than they will be getting from the Borough!

Life is never boring as a councillor. And there are times when you wonder whether you have time to take breath!

Take the last two days for example. On Tuesday morning I was in Stafford to sit on the appointments panel tasked with the job of selecting the new Chief Executive for the Borough Council. The meeting had been underway about an hour and a half when the Chair, Cllr. Judith Dalgarno, announced that the process was to be suspended. The Borough Council was negotiating with Cannock Chase District Council about the possibility of sharing ‘back office’ facilities (a euphemism for job cuts?) and possibly sharing a Chief Executive. I’ll be writing again about this in a lot more detail when I have a few quiet moments.

Then in the evening it was down to the Town Council chamber for two sub committee meetings. We are fast approaching ‘Budget Day’ when the Town Council fixes it’s precept, so these meetings enable sub committees to put in a bid for budgets for next year’ projects.

Then on Wednesday meeting I was off up to the Potteries for a piece of private business and then straight back to Bromfield Court where Age Concern put on a New Year Thank You party for those of us who volunteer throughout the year. Then down to town for a meeting of the Anti-Social Behaviour Group - again I’ll try to post a more detailed item about this meeting later. Then straight down to Stafford for an adjourned hearing of a case before the Public Appeals Committee of the Borough Council.

Then it was up to Stone again for more two more evening sub committee meetings to deal with next year’s budget. There will be a meeting of Committee chairmen next week to finalise the whole budget and then it will be placed before the full council in a couple of weeks time.

No wonder I was ready for a pint in Granvilles afterwards! And no wonder I’ve overslept this morning!

I went into town on Saturday and was stopped several times by people wanting to know why there was no Farmers’ Market in town. Unfortunately, it seems the Newsletter had printed an article stating there was to be a market when, in fact, we never have a Market in January. Our Farmers’ Market is always held on the first Saturday of the month and we learnt in our very first year that January was a total flop. We attracted very few stalls - most stallholders have sold out of stock in the run up to Christmas - and equally important, most of the public have spent all their money! It’s just a pity the Newsletter got it wrong!

At least one smiling face greeted me - that of Bill Cash MP, who wished me well for the New Year and then sought confirmation of a ‘rumour’ he’d heard - that I would not be standing against him at the next General Election. I explained that I was too busy these days and that the local party had selected a candidate who could devote her full time to the task of winning the seat from him! After passing some very flattering remarks about me, he walked back to the Conservative offices. Did I detect some worry lines across his brow when he took his leave?

The following applications relate to properties within Stonefield and Christchurch ward. For further details contact the Planning Officer at Stafford Borough Council, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford ST16 3AQ or telephone 01785 619337 quoting the application number.

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Application Number: 07/09419/FUL                Type of Application: Full

Date registered: 21 December 2007                 Applicant:Cottage Furniture Limited

Location:  Unit 9 Whitebridge Way, Whitebridge Industrial Estate, Stone

Proposal: Variation of conditions on planning permission for new commercial unit to permit manufacture and upholstery of contract furniture including addition of mezzanine floor and installation of dust extraction system and external flue.

Case Officer: Mrs K Wilson

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Application Number: 07/09507/FUL            Type of Application: Full  

Date registered: 21 December 2007                 Applicant: Mr J Kelly.

Location: 3 Cedar Park, Stone

Proposal: Two storey side extension utility room and bedroom

Case Officer: Ms T Brown

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Application Number: 07/09489/FUL            Type of Application: Full 

Date registered: 2 January 2008                 Applicant: Enterprise Inns plc.

Location: The Vine Inn, 104 Oulton Road, Stone

Proposal: Retaining wall with brick piers around existing drinking area. Make good floor and add two new jumberellas plus new timber canopy with new door opening.

Case Officer: Ms t Brown

A couple of years ago, I was heavily involved in promoting and preparing the first Calendar of Events and have played an active role in preparing them ever since. I make no apology for the fact that I ‘cribbed’ the idea from a leaflet I picked up in the Tourist Information shop in Ludlow some years back. That super little town has something happening every weekend throughout the year and it clearly drags the tourists in. As Phil Mayell, Ludlow’s Food and Drink supremo explained to Jill Hood and me on an early visit,  ”visitors to Ludlow know that there will be something going on in town - they may not know what but they can be sure there’ll be something happening!” Oh, that we could attract visitors to Stone on that basis!

Well, perhaps we are beginning to get there! The Calendar of Events is a leaflet that fits into leaflet display stands and is distributed throughout the Staffordshire Tourist Bureau network as well as in local hotels, shops and restaurants. And the latest edition is now in the course of preparation.

Yesterday Jill and I spent a very productive couple of hours with Sharon Douce, the Town Centre Co-ordinator, who is producing the next edition. We were cross checking the dates and details of various events planned for this year. And what a year it promises to be! In addition to our regular monthly Farmers’ Market and the monthly Craft and Collectibles Market, we’ve events at Easter, a cycle race in June, the Stone Festival in early June, a Music Festival in July, the Food and Drink Festival in October plus Bonfire and Fireworks in November, Christmas Lights Switch on in late November and events leading up to Christmas. And there are several other events in the pipeline too! Alleynes School is 450 years old this year and St. Michael’s Church has a significant anniversary.

So look out for the 2008 Calendar within the next few weeks. It’s essential reading about what’s on in Stone this year!

The festivities are over and the phones are ringing again! And it’s the Christchurch Way Car Park issue again. Two residents of the Millstone Heights development, which backs onto the new car park, are furious about the destruction of the hedgerow between the car park and the footpath to Granville Terrace. They called me within an hour of each other this morning. Their properties now look straight onto the car park with the associated problems of noise and light pollution.

They were assured that the original hedge would be retained as a screen and I can confirm that the original plans showed that to be the case. As one resident said to me this morning “when we bought this apartment it was our dream - now it’s a nightmare”.

I assured them both that I will be pressing the Borough Council to create some form of proper screening. One resident shared my own view that the chances of success are small bearing in mind the comments of Cllr. D. Davies printed in last week’s Newsletter. She deeply resented his comments suggesting that she was ungrateful and that she and her neighbours were always willing to stand on the side lines and criticise anything the Borough does.  And I thought he was referring to me!

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and succesful New Year!

I am often accused of being anti Stafford Borough. I am not - honestly. But there are times when I get very angry about the way the Borough sometimes treats the town.

Let me explain the latest example. Over Christma