Roadshows to help preserve city's 'rich' heritage

Council leader Jane Ashworth said Stoke-on-Trent had a "rich" history

A series of heritage roadshows are to be held across Stoke-on-Trent, in a bid to find out what people value most about the city's history.

The project, run by the city council, aims to get residents' views on how to manage the city's heritage as well as their opinions on regeneration sites and projects in the coming years.

It comes after Stoke-on-Trent received £249,332 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Heritage Places initiative.

City council leader Jane Ashworth said the workshops would help the authority to understand what was most important to residents.

She said: "We're a city with a rich history and a number of distinctive buildings that need to be preserved, restored and refurbished for the benefit of the local community and visitors to the city."

The exercise would also help the authority know where to focus its resources and efforts in the future, Ashworth added.

Stoke-on-Trent is particularly known for its pottery industry heritage

As part of the roadshows, people will be asked what part of the city's history needs to be "protected, promoted and prioritised".

The first three roadshows are at:

• Burslem School of Art in Cobridge from 10:00 to 12:00 BST on Saturday 28 June

• Fenton Town Hall from 10:00 to 12:00 BST on 12 July

• Westport Lake Cafe in Longport from 10:00 to 12:00 BST on 19 July

Events will also be held in Shelton, Etruria and Stoke throughout September and October, the details for which will be shared in due course, the council said.