Welcome to Pits n Pots

Pits n Pots is the home of independent news and discussion here in Stoke-on-Trent.  It is our aim to report news from the City of Stoke-on-Trent and promote discussion.   Please feel free to join in the discussions on the site but please remember, racist & homophobic comments will not be tolerated nor will personal attacks, libellous, defamatory or abusive comments.

You can post anonymously but your comments may take some time to appear on the site, you are welcome to sign up for an account which will remove some of the restrictions we have set. 

Posted by Tony Walley
Here is the latest offering in our 'In Conversation' pieces. Today we managed to catch half an hour out of a very busy day in the life of Stoke-on-Trent's new Chief Executive John Van de Laarschott. As you will be aware if you read this site, I have been very impressed with John.
Posted by Tony Walley
Share that loving feeling this Valentines Day with a free cycle ride around Westport Lake.   The ride will allow couples and singles to enjoy a romantic journey around the lake. A number of tandems will be available upon request.
Posted by Tony Walley
Staffordshire County Council today called for partners and other local authorities to do more to support carers and the voluntary sector following the announcement that dementia now costs the economy twice as much as cancer.
Posted by Tony Walley
The Conservative hoping to be Stoke Central’s next MP has published a clean expenses and fair campaign pledge.    The contract for honesty and transparency was made by Norsheen Bhatti and follows the scandal

The Job Centre is a 100 years old this month. The Observer had a feature on this auspicous anniversary last week. The piece mentioned the role that Winston Churchil the then Liberal President of the Board of Trade had in founding the Labour Exchange as it was then called although the history of the Job Centre/ Labour Exchange goes back further than that.
Posted by Warren Lloyd
Stoke City’s home game with Blackburn on Saturday was saddened with the death of a travelling Blackburn supporter. The man of 30, who has not yet been named, was found collapsed on the South Stand concourse just after 4pm on Saturday 6th February. Some 1,300 travelling fans were using that area of the ground.

There was an article in Private Eye under the Nooks and Corners section on the fate of Tunstall Baths in this week's edition " More on the closure of Britain's swimming pools which sems to continue as spending cuts bite.

A hot topic in the national news recently centres on the issue of how far we can go in the UK, to protect our home and those we care about. At the end of last month, millionaire businessman Munir Hussain managed to have a custodial sentence overturned and walked away with a suspended sentence after having beaten up an intruder who had not only burgled him, but also tied him and his family up and threatened to kill them.
Posted by Warren Lloyd
Stoke on Trent City Council has admitted to making some ‘serious mistakes in awarding contracts for work. One firm, Kinders Ltd have been paid upwards of £3.2m in the past four years for work it did around the area. Kinders where not to blame, the firm did nothing wrong, but the council admit that the contract given to Kinders should have been tendered. The work was carried out on an as and when basis.

The city council gave to the muslim community a plot of building land in Hanley, somewhere to build their new mosque. To the annoyance of a lot of people, the council only asked that in return for the land, a peppercorn rent be paid in the amount of £1 per year. The Potteries Community Federation has come up with an idea based on this deal from the city council, and we'd like your opinions on it.
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