27.01.23 – Tree Cutting on Basford Bank, Man Jailed for Tunstall Robbery, Drugs Warrant in Tunstall

Part of the A53 will be closed to all road users and pedestrians on two Sundays so tall trees can be cut back for the first time in 18 years.Tree surgeons will be working on both sides of the A53 Etruria Road at Basford Bank, between the junction with the A500 and Basford Park Road. Closures will be between 7.30 am and 5 pm on Sunday 19 February and Sunday 26 February.

Emergency vehicles will be able to use the road if needed and signposted diversions will be in place for other users. Residents who need direct access from the closed road to their homes can ask the traffic management team located at the roadblock, near Basford Park Road, to be safely let through.

The work will be carried out by contractors working on behalf of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and Staffordshire County Council.

Speaking on behalf of the three councils, Cllr Carl Edwards, Cabinet member for environment at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:

“These trees haven’t been touched for around 18 years. A ‘canyon’ has been created from the way they closely line the road.

“It’s important that councils manage our assets well and pollarding is a good way to do this.

“We will also see if the work improves air quality in the area. This location has a high level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and the removal of the tree canyon will help dispersion of the pollution in the area.

“Also cutting the trees back does not affect their roots so the support they give the bank won’t be affected by this work.

“But the work will change the look of this stretch of road and that’s really important for people to understand but not worry about. The upper limbs of the trees will be removed so they will look very different. But we want to reassure residents and motorists that they will regrow and remain healthy.

“We chose Sunday as our data shows it’s the quietest day of the week which means we can cause minimal disruption while carrying out this essential asset management and public health work.”

The RSPB advises that the main breeding season for nesting birds is usually in March so the work is taking place during February.

What diversions will be in place?

Visit https://one.network/ and create a free member of the public account for full details of all the diversions in the area on the two Sundays.

A suggested diversion for road users is, from the east, to take the A500 northbound and exit onto the A527. Follow the A527 past Wolstanton retail park onto Grange Lane and turn left onto the A527 Church Lane. Follow the A527 as it becomes High Street, and then Brampton Road until it becomes the A527 Queen Street. Carry on along Queen Street then turn left at the Nelson Place roundabout onto A53 King Street.

If travelling east from the Newcastle side, please reverse that route.

Anyone who wants more information should contact their local council:

• Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Call 01782 234567 or use the online query form.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Call 01782 717717 or use the online query form.
• Staffordshire County Council Call 0300 111 8000 or email contactus@staffordshire.gov.uk

Councillor Carl Edwards

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A man has been jailed over a knifepoint robbery of a driver who had pulled over to make a phone call Tunstall in September 2021.
Owen Boon, 20, of no-fixed-address, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to 46 months behind bars after admitting robbery, possessing a knife in a public place and two counts of fraud by false representation.
The court heard how the victim, while parked at the roadside, the victim was approached by Boon, who threatened him with a knife before making off with his mobile phone and bank cards.  The victim was left shaken but unhurt following the robbery.

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Four people have been arrested after Staffordshire Police carried out an intelligence led drugs warrant in Stoke-on-Trent, as part of the neighbourhood week of action.  Just before 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning officers executed the warrant at a property on Nash Peake Street in Tunstall.   They seized suspected drugs, drugs paraphernalia and mobile phones.  Three men from Stoke-on-Trent, aged 52, 37 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.  A 37-year-old woman, also from Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs.