Hanley's 'grot spots' gated off with new bright lighting and CCTV

We're told a huge package of safety improvements to Stoke-on-Trent city centre will see more businesses and more people back on the high street.

Over £400-thousand of Safer Streets funding, secured by the Staffordshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, has been spent on keeping crime out of so-called 'grot spots' and dark alleyways plagued by crime and anti-social behaviour.

The improvements include large black secure gates at each end of various alleyways, bright lighting fixtures and CCTV cameras, along with improvements to existing CCTV and generally tidying up areas.

There are improvements to:

• Bird Cage Walk where alleygates have been installed to close a narrow cut through behind a series of businesses in Marsh Street South, which had attracted anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.

• Market Lane where alleygates have been installed alongside new lighting columns to close a cut through behind the TSB bank.

• Foundry Street where allegates have been installed to close a narrow cut through behind Hanley Primary Care Access Centre.

• Gitana Street where alleygates and a pedestrian gate have been installed to control access to a back alley close to Fiction nightclub.

• Brockley Square near to Reflex nightclub, where alleygates have been installed to close a narrow entrance at the top of the square adjoining Stafford Street.

The range of measures include:

Gating, Fencing, Railings

•Fencing –Bird Cage Walk & adjacent to Hope Street

•Vehicle Gates (7)

•Pedestrian gates (10)

•Roller shutter (1) – at the narrow entrance to Stafford Lane

•Each alley way has a secure emergency exit push pad

•Exit directions and CCTV signage has been added

Lighting

New lighting columns (22)

CCTV

Upgraded existing CCTV cameras (19)

New CCTV cameras (12)

Removed foliage blocking existing CCTV cameras

Ben Adams, Staffordshire's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner told us:

"What we're seeing is a custom gate for each situation. There's lighting, there's stuff we're doing to raise awareness- particularly with women and girls around harassment. It's all part of a package to make people feel safer and we'll see the results of this.

"It'll help people feel safer coming to Hanley and it'll help businesses making decisions to come and invest here. That's the key. The more people we've got here enjoying the city, the better.

"The main thing is Staffordshire Police will have visibility of what's going on in the city. These areas were where people tried to lay low, might use them as escape routes, or conduct crime and things like drug transactions in dark alleyways. Now, all that won't be possible".

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