Stoke-on-Trent - Top of the List

Well, I promised and so shall I deliver.

My job of producing a non-moany blog was greatly helped by the recent news that Stoke-on-Trent (actually North Staffordshire) came top in a national pole of cities with high levels of community cohesion.

I can say with not a hint of irony that I was officially chuffed to bits!

I think we tend to think that our little town has its share of problems, and we are pretty much correct. High up on that list is probably the degree of separation between many of the different communities that live here. We remain, despite our 'city' status, a collection of towns and even villages, with each little subdivision remaining fiercly protective of its own identity. The growing pull of Hanley is certainly reducing this effect, particularly amongst the young, but it remains present and correct.

Then there's the darker side of the issue that we are all too willing to shy away from facing. The rise of the neo-fascist British National Party is symbolic of racial tensions within our community but also of the economic decline that has blighted the area since the 1980s. However, the findings of the recent survey point to some of our more commendable reputations - for friendliness and sticking together.

My grandmother once told me about a trip she took to Torquay (or some such seaside town). Whilst travelling to a bingo hall or similar by bus, an older woman got on board. Seeing that there were no seats free at the front of the bus, my grandmother stood up and offered the old woman her seat. The old woman accepted then asked my grandmother if she was from the Potteries? Saying that she was, my grandmother asked how she knew this. The reply was that Potteries people were always very friendly and polite. This is not an unusual perception of the Potteries person.

Despite the pressures of modern life and our City's less than glittering recent history, this concern for our fellow man (woman etc.) bourne of our surviving village mentality is the key to why we still have a strong sense of community cohesiveness.

This presents us with a clue to how we can to move beyond the massive shock that the loss of our key industries has given to both our confidence and our economy. It can also, if we make sure that in looking after those we call 'us' we don't fall into the trap of dismissing 'them', be the way we elliminate the BNP and their type from our area. I remain convinced that hatred and division is a foolish distraction, as well as potentially massively damaging to any chance of us drawing new opportunities to the area.

So let us use this tremendous strength that we have to move the City forwards. 'Community' includes everyone who lives here and everyone has a responsibility to break down the barriers that still divide some of us. Our shared history, focused on the pot banks, steel factories and coal mines shows that if we work positively towards a new common goal, that this city can prosper again.

An Issue of our Time

Although I'm in danger of moving away from the point of this blog on my third posting, I feel that I need to vent a little about the whole MP's expenses thing...if I'm lucky, by the time I've calmed down I may have thought about how to link it to good old Stoke!

It is, apparently, a terrible system that has caused MPs of all complexion to leap to their receipt box and get a-claiming and, anyway, everyone does it so it's only reasonable. However, much less well covered are details of the MPs who managed, somehow, to only claim for expenses that are actually directly related to their job. No wysteria trimming for Hilary Benn. He has apparently claimed the grand total of £147 (ish) per year for the last three years. I'd like to list names of others who have acted with proporiety but they haven't made it onto the media outlets I follow.

The current excuse from the guilty parties (and Parties) seems to be that they now acknowledge that their actions may look a little iffy and that the flawed system definitely needs reforming. This is often said with a slightly confused look in the eye, as if they don't really know what the fuss is about. Well, they are certainly right that reform is required, but it hardly addresses the issue.

The worrying cases, and there seem to be plenty of them, are where MPs genuinely think that a plasma telly, nice leather sofa or six hundred quids worth of hanging baskets in their second home are essential. They are when a leaky pipe under the tennis court, mucky moat or overactive wysteria are someone else's problem. And why on earth is it acceptable for their mortgage interest to be paid through an allowance when they get to keep the house (or cash from its sale) when they get booted out?

The answer is not to say 'sorry' or to change the system. I would suggest that an MP who can't work out that expenses are to compensate for work-related expenditure (clue's in the name) probably does not have the judgement to make decisions on war, the environment or how to address our current financial crisis. The solution, at least from where I'm sat, seems to be for those who've taken the mickey to let their constituents to decide their fate - bring on the by elections. I really do think we can find around 600 people who can, in the words of many an MP, tell right from wrong.

And how does this link with Stoke? Well, it doesn't directly, but it does speak to the quality of our political class generally and, as we know, Stoke has sometimes struggled to attract great talent. Maybe, hopefully, one of the positives to come out of this whole sorry mess will be that the sort of person who may have something to hide in power may be tempted to take their skills elsewhere...and that can only benefit us all.

(Will make sure the next one is less ranty!)

Getting Around

First of all, that orange of the titles is just unpleasant...really must look at that!

Anyhoo, on Monday just gone (that would be a bank holiday) we decided to potter over to Newcastle for a drink with friends - what could possibly be nicer. Being a responsible type, I thought I'd look at public transport options on the basis that it would give us more options re. drinky-poos and how hard could it possibly be to get from Tunstall to Newcastle?

For those who don't follow such things, Tunstall is about five miles from Newcastle and is a pretty major town in the area. Imagine, then, my surprise when I looked at the top notch Bank Holiday service offered by our local bus company (that would be First). Direct buses every two hours (and not at hours that met with my requirements). There was an alternative route of travelling from Tunstall - Hanley then Hanley - Newcastle, but the lovely people at First feel that we should pay for the priviledge - £1.70 for each leg of the journey.

Being the geek I am, I did the maths and worked out that for two of us, the cost would be pretty similar between bus and taxi and hence went for Plan B - in the end, it was actually cheaper to go by taxi.

This, of course, begs the question: "Who, in their right mind, would choose to use buses that are both irregular and expensive?" We don't live out in the sticks and, unlike many car users, I am not afraid of waiting a little while to catch a bus. However, the thought of waiting for two hours to travel 15 minutes or paying a relative fortune (and take much longer for the journey) tries even the most committed greeney.

If we are serious about making it easy for people to get around our city and reduce traffic jams (which get ever longer day by day), we really do need to pick up our game...and when I say "we," I really mean the bus company.

In the meantime, I'll have to get myself a skateboard...