By Daniel Milligan: Householders in Shelton have been warned to expect a £100 fine if they fail to remove their recycling bins off pavements.
Shocked residents in Boughey Road were issued with a Section 46 notice by Stoke City Council, following problems with people leaving their waste bins on the footpaths.
Tony Dawson, of the council’s housing, environment and neighbourhood protection team, said it is a growing problem.
“The council have provided these bins for people and they need to take responsibility for them,” he said.
Mr Dawson also said there have been a …

By Micheala Kitt: Young people aged 10 and over are being invited to take part in a musical performance re-telling the story of Gulliver’s Travels.
The performance of Strange Voyages Two, written by Chris Monks, is being run by the Creative Learning Team at The Victoria Hall, Hanley.
Young people will be working alongside professional actors and singers with the role of Gulliver (Lem) being played by a professional actor.
The production is the second of four new operas for young people. The first part of the operas, based on Gulliver’s Travels, was premiered …

By Elliot Hodgett: Elderly residents are being warned about bogus doorstep callers who have been classed as ‘high risk’.
It follows a scam by three men who targeted a pensioner in Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent, last week.
One man knocked on the door and claimed he was from the water board and was able to produce ID after the resident answered.
After the man was let in, two accomplices broke into the house and stole some cash from the resident.
The first man is described as white, young, thin and dressed in a blue shirt.
A dark …

POLICE are still warning students to lock the gates in the back allies of Shelton.
The gates were installed last year in the university quarter area of Stoke-on-Trent, after the number of burglaries increased. Student houses were being targeted by burglars during the holidays, when the houses were empty.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council had these gates installed to help stop crime, but people who use them are not always locking the gates behind them.
PC Keith Emery, the University’s Liaison officer of Staffordshire Police said that the gates are there for the residents’ safety.
“The …

By Alyssa Harrison: Stoke-on-Trent residents can enjoy a free city-wide celebration next month in aid of World Health Day.
The event on April 11 will span across Central Forest Park in Hanley, Burslem Park and the city centre, with NHS Stoke and Stoke City Council teaming up to host a range of healthy activities.
There will also be a fitness and games area at the park where Stoke City, Port Vale, Youth Services, Army and Local Cadets will provide fun activities.
Graham Urwin, NHS Stoke-on-Trent Chief Executive, said: “Health inequality is still a …

By Alyssa Harrison: Residents were given the chance to express concerns about the university quarter (UNiQ) at a community forum set up by a Stoke-on-Trent housing association.
The Sanctuary Housing Group held their first forum on Wednesday (February 17) at the North Staffs Hotel on Station Road.

Those who went were keen to know what impact their suggestions would have on plans for UNiQ.

Cath Jordan, regeneration manager at Sanctuary Group Stoke, said: “We are hoping people can go out into the area and help us get as wide a view of what …

By Jack Adams and Amy Dennis: Staff and students at Staffordshire University are being encouraged to hone there cycling skills and confidence in the latest of a series of activities organised by the CycleStoke initiative.
The Bike to Basics programme begins at the University on Monday (February 15).
Among the activities included are training for basic cycling skills, maintenance and road safety.
The staff activity programme has been developed so bikes can be dropped off for maintenance in the morning.
There will also be an opportunity for staff to attend a training session in …

By Jack Adams: Children with disabilities from Stoke-on-Trent are to be offered a series of free activities including canoeing.
The news comes as Stoke-on-Trent City Council and NHS Stoke-on-Trent have announced plans to launch “The Aiming High for Disabled Children” programme, which will run until March 2011.
The programme is to be funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health.
Activities aim to give children up to 19 an enjoyable experience away from their carer and also to give carers a break from responsibilities.
Other activities include a …

 
By Leah Cassady and Sam Lacey: Angry residents in Shelton criticised Stoke City Council after delays caused by new bin collections left streets swimming in litter.
The date of collection was changed from a Monday morning to a Wednesday morning, but the council admitted today that collections were delayed.
Some residents claim their rubbish was collected on Friday and some say it was left out all week.
Sam Morris, of Ashford Street, said: “The collection date change wasn’t very well publicised as we didn’t even realise until the week of the change and …

By Laura Martlew: A “Scamnesty” campaign aimed at ending scam mailings, is coming to Stoke-on-Trent next week.

Residents are being urged to post any suspected scam mail into one of the “Scamnesty” bins at Hanley Town Hall, The Civic Centre, and the City Centre library.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is supporting the ‘Scamnesty 2010’ campaign set up by the Office of Fair Trading.
It aims to fight back against fraudsters, who cost consumers £3.5 billion and dupe more than 3.2 million adults across the country every year.
The most frequent mass-marketed scam mailings are sweepstakes, …