Go-ahead for station plan after statue fears eased

The statue of Josiah Wedgwood will be moved closer to the railway station entrance as part of the scheme (artist's impression)

Major plans to revamp the area outside Stoke-on-Trent railway station will go ahead after concerns over moving a Grade II-listed statue were addressed.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council approved a £9m project to transform Station Road, including relocating the statue of Josiah Wedgwood to a spot in front of the station entrance.

The scheme is aimed at reducing congestion and creating a more welcoming and efficient "transport interchange".

Some councillors had been concerned the statue of the famous potter would lose its impact if it was moved from its current position on Winton Square.

As part of the scheme, a bus gate will stop most through traffic on Station Road, and there will be new parking, bus stops and a realignment of the road.

A decision on the work was put off in December, to allow time to consider keeping the statue in place.

Planning committee vice-chair Andy Platt said computer generated images showing the statue in its proposed location had helped reassure him about the move.

"To come out the station and see the statue in its new position is actually an improvement," he said.

The statue of the famous potter was built in 1862 and stands between Stoke-on-Trent station and North Stafford Hotel.

Councillor Dave Evans added: "You can’t argue with its current placing, there’s a reason why it was put there, but similarly, I don’t think it’s a terrible distance to look at it in the new position."

But member Ross Irving remained opposed to the statue move, saying the aesthetics of Winton Square would be put "out of balance".

Now that plans had been approved, work would soon begin to transform "this critical travel route for the city", said Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and planning.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.