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.