As we prepare to say goodbye to 2022, we look back at the top ten most-read articles that we’ve published in the last 12 months.
Ongoing roadworks and abnormal loads played a significant part in terms of pure article views; I’ve excluded them from this roundup, but needless to say, keeping residents and visitors updated on roadworks and closures is an important part of our service.
Let’s see how many of these you remember, here are the ten most-read articles in reverse order:
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
10. Card Tavern rolls the dice with new gaming shop in the centre of Stone
Kicking off our top ten was the news in October about a new shop coming to the town centre.
If Pokemon TCG and Dungeons and Dragons are your thing then the arrival of a new gaming store was a welcome story.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
9. A new business is wandering onto the High Street this September
In August we were pleased to announce the arrival of a new business in the High Street. Wandering Bee had launched during the pandemic and after lots of hard work were ready to move to their Stone High Street home.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
8. Stone Round Table have worked with Santa to secure 2022 sleigh tour dates
Every year the round table’s sleigh tour dates generate a lot of interest from children (and parents) across Stone. Everyone’s keen to see Santa as he takes his sleigh, with the help of Stone Round Table, on his annual tour of the town.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
7. Plans for a 130-dwelling housing development on the ABB site in Stone face objections
In October, Stafford Borough Council published an outline planning application for the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the ABB/Hitachi site for residential development of up to 130 dwellings, public open space and associated works; locals were not happy.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
6. The Lamb’s car park management plans spark objection
In August, local democracy reporter Kerry Ashdown published a story about The Lamb bringing in a parking enforcement scheme to crack down on non-customers taking up all its spaces not having planning permission to do so.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
5. The end of the annual Stone Town Bonfire and Fireworks Display
At the start of November, we shared the news that the organising committee of the annual Stone Town Bonfire and Fireworks Display had met to formally disband and to make the final distribution of funds.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
4. Crown Wharf calls on public support as licence is reviewed following complaints
In September, we reported that Stone’s Crown Wharf was having its licence conditions reviewed by Stafford Borough Council following complaints about excess noise affecting nearby properties. The complaints were upheld and restrictions were placed on the outdoor space to reduce the noise.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
3. Stone builders bang to rights on Police Station development
In August, we spoke to Stone developers Luke Clarke and Dave Vickers about the local effort that’s gone into transforming Stone’s former Radford Street Stone Police Station into a quality town centre residential development.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
2. We chat to the new owners of Stone’s Crown Hotel
At the start of October, we spoke to the new team at Stone’s Crown Hotel. After years of neglect, we wanted to hear what the new operators had in store for this once-iconic Stone hotel.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
1. Man dies following an incident by the footbridge over the A34 in Stone
At the start of November, we reported the tragic news of a male who had fallen from the road bridge over the A34, near ALDI.
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
