In an interview on Radio Stoke last week, the chairman of Stone Food and Drink Festival said that the borough council’s plan for Westbridge Park puts the future of the festival at risk. Here, Richard Stevens explains why he believes this is the case – and why a supermarket on the park is bad for the town as a whole
The Westbridge Park consultation leaflet which is being delivered to every house in the town is dangerously misleading but I will leave it others to point out the numerous inaccuracies. Save one – it cannot be disputed that the area designated for events is substantially smaller than the area needed to run the annual Food and Drink Festival. I pointed this fact out on Twitter and said so during an interview on Radio Stoke. That seems to have hit a raw nerve with some folk who have suggested that I am ‘blackmailing’ the council because I am opposed to a supermarket.
So let me set out my position. It is simple. I am passionate about our town and proud of our Food and Drink Festival.
I believe that another supermarket in or near the town will take business out of the High Street and place many of our existing traders at risk. I do not accept the argument that shoppers at a new supermarket will walk into town. That argument was used when a new Tesco was built in Longton – look at Longton Market, The Strand and the Bennett Precinct now. So yes, I am opposed to a new supermarket in Stone but for what I consider to be good reasons. But this has not coloured my comments about the reduction in size of the ‘event’ space.
Stone Food and Drink Festival is now in its ninth year. It is run entirely by volunteers. No one is paid a penny in salary or dividends. Any profit is required by law to be retained to promote future Festivals. Over the years, literally hundreds of volunteers have given their time and labours to create what is now a hugely successful Festival attracting visitors from across the country. It has been independently assessed that the Festival generates an additional spend of half a million pounds in Stone – a huge boost to the local economy. And a survey of all the local shops and businesses in the town after last year’s Festival showed that 97% welcomed the Festival as being beneficial to the town’s economy.
Last year we used every single square inch of the park that was available to us. (The Borough Council strictly prohibits us from encroaching upon any part of the football pitch). Anyone who attended the Festival, particularly on the Saturday, will surely understand why I say that we could not have put the Festival on a smaller footprint. Could we use the football pitch? No – the Borough Council have always imposed a very strict prohibition. Could we use the Southern Meadow? No – this is always very damp and subject to flooding (as witness the last few months). Other venues? Several have been mentioned but none would be suitable. This is a town event organised for the benefit of the town, its businesses and residents.
Could we organise a mini Food Festival to fit a smaller footprint? The costs would be much the same (we’d still need marquees, generators, fencing, toilets, temporary roadways, demonstration kitchen audio visual equipment, security guards etc.) but would obviously have to place a limit on the numbers who could be admitted which would make the event unsustainable. And I doubt that our sponsors would be happy supporting a much smaller event.
So that is why I consider that the future of the Festival is under threat from the proposals to develop Westbridge Park. Of course, these are my own views but I am aware that my colleagues are in general agreement with me. However, we shall soon hold a formal meeting of the Festival committee and will then notify the Borough Council of our considered response as part of their consultation exercise.
See all of A Little Bit of Stone’s Westbridge Park coverage HERE
Click HERE to see the borough council’s plan for Westbridge Park
Click HERE to take part in the consultation on the borough council website
TOMORROW: The people who set up a Facebook group in favour of development on Westbridge Park have their say
27 comments
A New Leisure Centre for WBP
Please see new FAQs page on the council website below. Really interesting 🙂
https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/westbridge-park-consultation/westbridge-park-consultation-frequently-asked-questions
Jamie Summerfield
Hi there. Just posted about this on the site. Thank you
Hannah May Amison
I hate the thought of loosing that land the day they build on it I will disown the town. I have made my view clear before.
mark
Is it the principle of development that you object to or what is being proposed? Disowning the town seems a little drastic, before you make that decision please get involved in the consultation process and influence how WBP is developed.
Ben Alcock
You will disown the town because the BC want to build a small 1400 sqm food store, so they can build a new leisure center, swimming pool and play facilities for youngsters of all ages…….. Very strange comment.
Jack Taylor
Not a strange comment Ben in anyway! It is her opinion and she is entitled to it!
Ben Alcock
If you dont think someone wanting to disown a town becuase the BC want to improve the leisure provisision is not strange that is your opinion. However in my mind, it remains an absurd comment to make. At this time of austerity when many towns and citys are closing their leisure provision the BC is still actve in trying to make significant improvements and therefore should be commented..
mark
Richard, you seem to suggest that a new foodstore will persuade people to stop shopping in the high street in favour of the new foodstore, however do you not recognise that it could actually have the reverse effect. A need has been established in stone because a significant number of stone residents shop out of town. Do you not think that an additioanl foodstore (and more choice) could encourage these people to stay in stone and shop at the new foodstore, and if they are in stone they are more likely to shop in the high street. The biggest impact of the new foodstore on the existing shops will be felt by morrisons and the coop because it will provide these shoppers with an alternative. I don’t agree that the amount of greespace will be reduced anywhere near what you suggest. I’m also curious what this information is based on because the drawings are only indicative and not o scale. Would it not be better to know all the facts before making unsubstantiated statements? Only a few weeks ago we were told all of wbp will be lost under a sea of tarmac, now its the lost of f and d festival, what will we hear next week? If you are concerned about the f and d then actively engage in the consultation process, rather than scaremongering. Do you not think its possible to accomate a new f and d on a redeveloped wbp?
Rob Wise
Mark people are not scaremongering just because they do not agree with you. There are loads of areas of housing around Stone that used to be Green belt and the SBC just went ahead and built on it. People have justifiable concerns and they are not stupid enough to believe everything politicians tell them.
mark
Over the few months there have been posts claiming that all of wbp was going to be developed for a supermarket and housing, despite this never being the case, and housing was never proposed. A petition was also set up to spread this misinformation. Do you not consider this to be scaremongering? And people signed a petition based on this misinformation. Do you consider this to be acceptable? We are now being told that the F&D festival will be lost based on indicative drawings. Indicative drawings are not accurate and cannot be scaled, so such claims are based on no evidence. Again, more scaremongering. I don’t expect people to agree with me, however i do expect to have a debate based on fact, not hearsay, minsinformation and lies.
I’m not sure what the relevance is of your point regarding housing developments being permitted on the Greenbelt, however I’m happy to debate this with you. Which areas around Stone used to be Greenbelt and what housing proposals are you referring too? Greenbelt areas enjoy the highest level of protection, as such they are not developed unless their are exceptional circumstances. And any applications are referred to the secretary of state for approval, the decision is not made by the bc.
Are you sure your not referring to areas that were allocated as open countryside, but again, i’m struggling to think of any housing proposals. Could you advise? Your post also fails to acknowledge that BC have approved developments on brownfield sites, and this is always the priority. Housing schemes have been approved on the carpark opposite Bibbys social club and land no longer required by Scilabware? These sites are both brownfield developments.
Wig
not all of the bibbys development was on the old car park, there was still a wooded area that is now the larger car park and some of the houses (I have lived within view of that area since 1985 so have seen what they have removed)
Kate
Am I right in stating you work or worked for Harris Lamb as their senior planner they have been involved with the Bibby’s site planning with Stafford Borough Council. I wonder Mark could there be a conflict of interest here if you’re heavily involved with a planning application to build houses on the Bibby’s site. Obviously you would want a supermarket there as more houses means justifiable business development for the Supermarket doesn’t it?
mark
WIG, I was referring to the the housing scheme that was approved approximately 10 years ago on the small car park immediately opposite the former Bibbys Social Club and the site formerley occupied by SciLabware. I’m sure your aware that a housing application was approved approximately 2 years ago, which involved demolishing the Scilabware building and housing development.
Wig
you mean the one that’s still there in front of the playing field and allotments? old habits made me think of the former car park that’s already been developed
mark
Thats right. Whats your view about the potential residential development on the former Rugby pitch. Are you in favour of this development?
Wig
I rarely used the rugby/football pitch it seems odd it didn’t get more use as it has a half decent changing rooms on it. I could see why the social club was given up on though unless it was a pub quiz or just after a mathc had finished on the pitch the place was empty.
I wouldn’t complain if this new development opens up a footpath to the Aldi, but I don’t like the idea of more traffic at peak times
mark
Access into the proposed development will be served off the a34, there will be no vehicle traffic onto tilling drive. Also the applicant is proposing to improve the hockey club, which is where the rugby club has now moved to. I understand from speaking to the rugby club that the grounds were no longer fit for purpose because the changing rooms were getting broken into and club closed down. They now enjoy excellent facilities at the hockey club.
Ben Alcock
Not true, do not get confused between what is green belt and what is green land. You will be surprised by how little green belt land there actually is.
mark
Its a common misconception ben, most people wrong assume that all green fields are allocated as greenbelt.
mark
You may not believe the politicians, however the draft local plan and the consultation leaflets are being produced by planners. These are indepedent from the political process.
cremebrulay
mark, planners are not separate from the political process if the plans go before a planning committee (which in this instance they will) The planning committee is entirely made up of local councillors (see link)
https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/demserv/group/id/47975D41-C23C-49B1-A65D-67B8689B9293
Ben Alcock
It is also worth mentioning that Cllrs also have act in accordance with planning policy otherwise they leave themseleve open to appeal from Developers. Which if found negigent would leave them liable to pay compensation. These Cllrs, therefore take on the advice of planners and are well briefed prior to making a final decision.
mark
i’m a chartered town planner, as such i know how the planning process. The point i was trying to make (maybe not very well) is that the draft local plan and consultation leaflet were produced by planners not politicians. Planners make decisions based on planning reasons, it is up to cllr members on major applications to make the final decision, however, the decision should be based on planning reasons not party politics.
FrostyTheSnowman
Some people would prefer Stone to stay in the Middle ages or 70’s tower blocks to come back, rather than new facilites and houses be built for the ever growing population on brownfield, green and reclaimed land within the suburbs. ‘Rob Wise 123’, who joined facebook 7 hours ago just to comment on this(?)… welcome to the debate! If the “Keep Westbridge Park Green” petition and the plans that Councillor Rob did of the park with a huge supermarket in the middle can’t be classed as scaremongering I dont know what is!
ted
Ironic when someones identity and motives are being questioned by ‘frosty the Snowman’ DOH Anyway Westbridge park was given to the people of Stone by Joules for Leisure activities.
Ben Alcock
Exactly, so isnt it about time WBP finally realised that and provided adequate leisure provision for all Stone residents.
A New Leisure Centre
We love the Food and Drink Festival. It’s something most of us – who can afford to take the family for the day – really enjoy. There are however, a couple of things that we were hoping Richard would address on his guest post, namely:
1 – You have said that volunteers would lack the drive to continue with the Festival if it could not continue to grow. Where exactly were you planning for it to grow before the new leisure centre was announced?
2 – SBC plan to convert the access road at the front of the park (the old road to Eccleshall) to green space. Will this not help with space in the short term?
3 – If you need to expand further, could you not have a marquee at Aston Marina – they even offer water taxis! People could also use the new tow path to get there? There are other spaces out there… Could you buy or rent some land off a local Farmer for instance, or use the Common Plot?
4 – The Football pitch you mentioned could potentially be used at some point, post Westbridge Park development, as new sports pitch facilities are planned with changing rooms and proper drainage up the road are they not? SBC would surely talk about this then? Either way…..
5 – If Stone Town Council do hand ownership of Westbridge Park over to Stone Town Council (as they say in their leaflet) after the development, could you not use your influence to convince Stone Town Council to either: a) Let you use the Football Pitch, or: b) Let you use funds from your account to pay for darinage in the meadow at the rear of the park, therefore helping Stone expand its useable green infrastructure and ensuring growing room for the festival in the future? That would also be one way that the Food and Drink festival could use its savings to help the Park become more useable for other events as well, such as the charity bonfire.
Keep up the good work,
Thank you
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