'At-risk town centre worthy of being preserved'

Jon Plant, director at Moorland Pottery, said there were positive things happening in Burslem

A town centre added to a national list of places at risk was worthy of being preserved and should be talked up more, a pottery firm director said.

The conservation area in Burslem, one of the six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent, was among the additions to Historic England's Heritage at Risk register for 2025.

It covers the historic Georgian core of the town, which includes some of the city's historic buildings such as the Wedgwood Institute, Queen's Theatre, Burslem School of Art and the Old Town Hall.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it supported the decision to include it on the register and that it would open up more funding opportunities.

Jon Plant, director of Burslem firm Moorland Pottery, said there was "no doubt" many of the buildings were at risk but urged people to be more positive about the area.

He told BBC Radio Stoke projects like the statue of Lemmy Kilmister and plans to turn the Queen's Theatre into a concert venue proved the town's fortunes could be turned around.

"Burslem is an absolutely unique town. I think it's worthy of being preserved and it should become a big tourist attraction, in my mind," he said.

"Something like Lemmy, and 'Burslemmy', will help to regenerate and definitely bring people into the town."

Mr Plant said there were "a lot of positives" happening in Burslem and urged people to not talk the area down.

"I think we need to talk it up a bit and be positive rather than negative," he added.

David Wragg said Burslem was in a state of "rapid decline" because of the state of some of the buildings

David Wragg, who lives in Burslem, said the town centre was in a "state of rapid decline" because of the state of some of the buidings.

"It's just very sad. The buildings are falling to bits before our eyes. They're collapsing," he said.

He referred to the current state of the Grade II-listed pub The Leopard, which was seriously damaged in a fire in January 2022.

Mr Wragg said he would rather see some of the vacant properties used for housing, provided the façade remained intact, than see them remain empty.

'Structural decline'

In adding Burslem to its at risk register, which lists buildings considered at risk of "neglect or inappropriate development", Historic England said the town had "long faced challenges".

Councillor Chris Robinson said the addition to the register highlighted some of the city's historic sites remained vulnerable.

"It also opens up new funding opportunities and support to help us carry out essential repairs and restoration.

"We support this decision and were involved early in discussions about this year's list."