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From Saturday 3rd - Friday 9th
January 2004
(days
in reverse order)
Friday
9th
January 2004
Polish
controversy Elderly Polish people in Stoke-on-Trent say they're unhappy that
their day-care club has moved away from its former base. The North Staffordshire
Polish day care centre used to be based at the Polish Parish Centre in Longton.
But funding problems mean it's now moved to a non-Polish centre at
Holy Trinity Church in Newcastle.
In
a statement the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of
The Polish Benevolent Fund Charitable Trust,
Janusz Sikora-Sikorski, said when a 3 year grant to pay for its tenure at Longton
ran out, they
were unable to come to an agreement with the new organisers of the day care facility;
but it says it's
willing to review the situation.
Science
centre planned A new £1.2m centre which aims to revolutionise the teaching
of science in the West Midlands is to be built on the Keele University campus
in Staffordshire. Read
the full story from BBC News
Hit-and-run
driver sought A teenage boy is in hospital with a suspected broken leg after
being hit by a car in Stoke. It happened at about 2050 GMT on Friday on London
Road, near its junction with The Villas and the vehicle, believed to be silver-coloured,
failed to stop. Detectives believe it has probably sustained severe damage to
its windscreen, windscreen wiper and a headlight. The boy, who is aged 14, is
detained in hospital for observation.
JCB
house still up A house built by the East Staffordshire company JCB without
planning permission is still standing - despite an order to knock it down. A government
inspector ruled against the digger giant last year. According to planners, it
was effectively demolished and a new house put up instead. East Staffordshire
Borough Council ordered its demolition. JCB appealed, but lost and the company
had until yesterday to get rid of the building.
The council now says as a
last resort it can move in and knock down the house itself. But JCB says there's
a fresh planning application being made which should give it a stay of execution.
Thursday 8th
January 2004
Stamps
used to smuggle drugs Postage stamps are used to smuggle drugs into Dovegate
Prison in Staffordshire, according to a report. Read
the full story from BBC News
Elvis to stay in Cannock A restaurant
owner who got all "shook up" at the idea of losing his life-size Elvis Presley
statue has been reassured it can now stay put. Andrew Wallett, from the Los Angeles
Rock Cafe in Cannock, erected the statue last October without the right permission.
When they heard it was under threat, hundreds of people wrote letters of support.
But now, he's been granted retrospective permission - so The King won't be "leaving
the building" after all!
From one animal to anotherAn East
Staffordshire biscuit maker which merged with the confectionery giant Fox's is
to lose its name. Elkes is to carry on manufacturing in Uttoxeter, but under the
name of Fox's biscuits. The managing director of Fox's says he knows some people
will be worried about the change, but he thinks it's the right name to take the
new business forward.
Council in pigeon plea Stoke-on-Trent City
Council is asking people to stop feeding the pigeons. Read
the full story from BBC News
Wednesday 7th
January 2004
Money taken
in post office raid Thousands of pounds were stolen in a break-in at a post
office in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The police say the building on Wolstanton High
Street was broken into on Tuesday night or early on Wednesday morning. They say
a substantial amount of cash and television stamps were taken from the post office,
which was empty at the time. Officers are appealing for witnesses.
Publican sought The licensee and manager
of a landmark Staffordshire pub are being sought after more than £100,000
in takings went missing. The company that owns the "Shropshire Inn"
in Haughton found the pub had closed early when they called in on Friday.
Anthony Allen, accountant for Shoe Shuffle Inns, said the pub's keys had been
pushed through their office door but none of the takings could be found. The amount
involved is in six figures and police are investigating.
Kerb crawler warnings a 'success' The police in Stoke-on-Trent say measures
to stop kerb crawlers picking up prostitutes are working. Officers have been giving
suspected offenders written notices over the past three months, warning them they
will be arrested if they are caught acting suspiciously for a second time. Police
say that nobody who has been given a warning has come to their attention
again. Pc Steve Atherton said kerb crawlers were not as much of a problem in Stoke-on-Trent
as in some other cities.
See our special report on Prostitution
in Stoke on Trent
Tuesday 6th
January 2004
Taylor considers retirement Stoke-on-Trent's Phil Taylor says he is thinking
about retirement, days after capturing his 11th world darts title. Read
the full story from BBC News
More
about Phil
Taylor
Water levels return to normal One of Staffordshire's main sources
of water has been replenished after the dry autumn caused its levels to fall.
Tittesworth Reservoir, just outside Leek, was still only about half-full by November
as the rain shortage through the autumn followed the hot summer. Steady downpours
since then have brought its levels back to normal for the time of year. But water
company Severn Trent is warning that erratic weather could cause the problem to
recur.
Doxey campaign The consumer watchdog Post Watch says it's
determined to keep a Stafford post office open because it's at the heart of a
community and relied on by many people. After recieving 50 letters of objection
to the closure of the Doxey branch, members will meet with post office managers
to put forward a case to save it. Monday
5th January 2004
Taylor
champion again Stoke-on-Trent's Phil Taylor wins an epic final by seven sets
to six to claim his 11th PDC World Darts Championship title. Read
the full story from BBC News
Hear Phil
in interview after his win
Falling column killed teenager A
Stafford firm, Conder Structures Limited, is fined for its involvement in the
death of a 16-year-old worker who died at a construction site. Read
the full story from BBC News
Man in court over bungalow murder
A Cobridge man appears in court accused of the murder of a Harold Bun, who
was found stabbed in a sheltered housing complex. Read
the full story from BBC News
Ice
rink firm's money problems The firm that ran an ice rink in Stoke on Trent
which shut without warning had admitted it was in financial trouble, it emerges.
Read the
full story from BBC News
Sunday 4th
January 2004
Empty beds system piloted A new computerised
system, being run by Staffordshire Ambulance Service, which locates empty hospital
beds, is on trial in the West Midlands. Read
the full story from BBC News
Wasp danger to plane An investigation
into a plane accident in East Staffordshire has revealed the pilot was forced
to make a crash landing because of a wasp. It's believed a nest was blocking a
tube attached to the wing causing the plane to malfuction. The report by the Department
for Transport concluded that the emergency landing at Tatenhill Airfield on 22nd
June last year was due to the blockage. The 56-year-old pilot who had 250 hours'
flying experience was uninjured.
Triple birthday celebrations
A family from Stoke-on-Trent is celebrating three generations of birthdays this
weekend. The fourth of January has been a special day for the family since Dorothy
Holt gave birth to her son, Robert in 1958.
Dorothy's daughter, Shirley,
then gave birth to her son, Allan, on the same day 24 years later. And Shirley's
daughter Wendy also gave birth, to Molly, on 4th January last year.
Saturday 3rd January
2004
Police hunt Hanley rapist Detectives searching for
a man who raped a 21-year-old woman in Stoke-on-Trent city centre. Read
the full story from BBC News
Man arrested over stabbing A
man is arrested after a grandfather suffered
fatal stab wounds in his home at Kidsgrove. Read
the full story from BBC News
Police
appeal over 'abduction' report Police are investigating reports a woman was
struck by a car in Brownhills, South Staffordshire then bundled into the back
and driven away. Read
the full story from BBC News
Baker is top writer BBC Radio
Stoke's annual play writing competition - run in conjunction with the Hanley Regent
Theatre - has been won by a man from Wallasey. Mark Baker took first place with
his play "Albert" - with works by Staffordshire and Cheshire writers
Martyn Barlow and Dave Morgan also highly commended.
See Full
Story
Family rescued in the Highlands A family from Staffordshire
and Derbyshire are rescued after they go missing in the Scottish Highlands. The
Barber family from Clayton nr Newcastle failed to return from a walk in the Glen
Shiel area of the Scottish highlands. Read
the full story from BBC News
Homeless problem A special BBC
report indicates a hidden homelessness problem in Stoke on Trent. The report investigated
claims by the ARCH charity that headcounts of rough sleepers don't include the
dozens of people staying on friends' floors or sleeping in a squat; and the belief
that the city doesn't have enough hostel accommodation for everyone who needs
it. See Full
Story FULL
ARCHIVE OF 2002, 2003 & 2004 STORIES - CLICK
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