Welcome Sandyford and Goldenhill Residents Association (S.A.G.E.)
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A residents association uniting the two villages of Sandyford and Goldenhill since 1999
An organisation that aims to improve the environment and lifestyle for all its residents who live in our community
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 As part of the ongoing works on the Tunstall Arrow Project, Caddick will be continuing with slab works on a further 2 of the 5 units which involves works that may extend into the early hours of the morning.
Just as the works 2 weeks ago, it is anticipated that the works will involve some intermittent noise disruption from the finishing equipment in the units. Caddick will obviously endeavour to minimise both the noise levels and any disruption that this may cause.
With this in mind, the company is informing residents that on the evenings of Thursday 8th March, Friday 9th March and Monday 12th March, there will be site activities extending, potentially into the early hours in order to complete the concrete finishing works.
Caddick are taking this opportunity to offer their sincere apologies for any inconvenience and disturbance that these works may cause, and their thanks for your patience and understanding.
 A 1,261 strong petition has failed in an attempt by Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association to keep the Co-op Bank open in Tunstall.
A meeting took place with Co-op Bank management on the 12th February, outlining why the Tunstall Branch should not close. Reasons put forward at the meeting by the residents association, along with City Councillors, Ann James, Joy Garner and Alan Dutton were,
- The Co-op Bank is encouraging business use at the post office, which could encourage customers to transfer their services over to them
- Tunstall Bank has disabled parking bays outside the branch where Hanley & Newcastle branches don’t
- Nat-West & Barclays Bank closures has meant more people moving their services to the Co-op because of it being known as the people’s bank; mutuality when it was Britannia, and people still see it that way even though it no longer holds it’s mutual status. It is far easier to lose customers than to gain new “This needs to be remembered”
- Post Office in Tunstall struggles to cope with the influx of customers now, let alone having extra Co-op Bank customers, (people shop in Tunstall)
- There has been more disappointment about the Tunstall Bank closure because customers feel hurt at what has happened, you don’t usually get this with other bank closures & the upset could cause loyalty being thrown out of the window
- 1 in 4 of over 16’s in Stoke on Trent don’t have internet access, over double the national average (many older people are not savvy with the internet let alone banking with it
- Britannia passbook accounts cannot be serviced at the post office
- Demographics of the city was discussed at length, including time, travel and financial costs
- When the Co-op Bank recently suffered financial difficulties, its customers/membership stood by the financial institution in it’s time of crisis and now it is believed the favour should be returned
- Concerns were raised that older people may keep their cash at home before travelling a distance
- Loyalty with the Co-op Bank by it’s customers/members, sometimes means they will invest money at lower interest rates rather than investing elsewhere, and if driven to bank in Hanley then loyalty could be lost to other banking organisations
Conclusion statement given to the Co-op Management read, Customers/Members of the bank are devastated at the decision the Co-op has made to close the Tunstall Branch, and are hopeful that you will reconsider your choice to leave it open for your many members who have regularly supported the Co-op and previously the Britannia.
Remember, you already have a supportive and loyal membership, and this is something that most other banks don’t have, so please look at your decision again, it is important for everyone concerned.
The Co-op Bank responded by saying, they understand the strength of feeling towards the closure of any branch, and they appreciate the arguments presented against the closure of the Tunstall Branch. The bank went onto say, their proposal reflects changes in the way their customers are choosing to bank with them, which has continued to accelerate as customers increasingly undertake more of their transactions online or via contactless payments. The bank added, the Tunstall branch has seen a reduction in transaction volumes of 11.% in just the last 12 months, which is one of the highest reductions amongst the branches which are due to close in the Stoke area.
The Co-op Bank further report that the Post Office provides everyday banking services to their customers and there are 4 located within a two mile radius of their branch.
The bank continued to say that while they have considered the feedback of their customers and the wider Tunstall community through the petition, and subsequent feedback at the recent meeting with the bank, they are unable to change their decision to close the branch. They believe it is the right decision to close the branch and while they recognise and understand the concerns people have, they have made sure alternative arrangements outlined by the Co-op Bank are available to customers of the branch.
Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association, along with 1,261 customers/members and supporters are very disappointed with the outcome made by the Co-op Bank to close it’s Tunstall Branch and believe it is the wrong decision to make.
Co-op Bank say in their own words, About The Co-operative Bank (Their Vision, They Say) “We pride ourselves on our customer service and customer satisfaction levels, and aim to put our customers at the heart of everything we do”. Unfortunately, almost 1,000 customers/members and supporters who signed the paper petition on cold and wintery days outside the branch as well as the online petition are finding it difficult to believe the Co-op Bank statement of priding themselves on their customer service, satisfaction levels and aiming to put their customers at the heart of everything they do by closing this well used bank in the heart of Tunstall.
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/defeat-1261-customers-who-tried-1280686
 Staffordshire Police were called at 11:20pm last night to the M6 between junctions 14 and 13 southbound following the report of a Ford Mondeo that had collided with the central reservation.
The 32-year-old driver then left the car and tried to flag down a number of passing vehicles before getting over the central reservation and onto the northbound carriageway. He was then struck by a Mercedes box van and suffered head and arm injuries.
He was attended to by medical staff from West Midlands Ambulance Service and taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital where his condition is described as critical.
Sgt Richard Moors said: “The collision involved a number of scenes over a mile distance and officers from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit undertook a detailed examination. The northbound carriageway was opened after around five hours but the southbound remained closed until around 9.30am today.
“Attempts were made to turn vehicles around on the southbound carriageway to release trapped vehicles, but with a number of large goods vehicles in the backlog this was a difficult task. I would like to thank motorists caught in the post-collision traffic for their patience whilst officers carried out their work.
“The investigation remains ongoing and we are keen to speak to any witnesses who saw either of the collisions on the southbound or northbound carriageway. I am particularly interested in any witnesses who have dash cam footage from either carriageway.”
Any witnesses are asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident 801 of 25 February
 Caddick Construction have reported as part of their ongoing works on the Tunstall Arrow Project in Sandyford, they are currently installing the Concrete Floor Slabs to 2 of the 5 Units.
Unfortunately, this involves works that will extend into the early hours of the morning.
With this in mind, they are informing residents that on the evenings of Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd February, there will be site activities extending, potentially into the early hours, in order to complete the concrete finishing works.
It is anticipated that the works will involve some intermittent noise disruption from the finishing equipment, but they will endeavour to minimise both the noise levels and any disruption that this may cause.
Caddick would like to take this opportunity to offer their sincere apologies for any inconvenience and disturbance that these works may cause, and their thanks for residents patience and understanding of the situation.
 Ruth Smeeth M.P. for Stoke on Trent North & Kidsgrove took the fight to Parliament, where she called on the Government to do more to stop bank closures, including the Co-op Bank in Tunstall.
Ruth debated in the House of Commons on Thursday telling members that all the towns in her constituency are facing branch closures, and is requesting the Government to support measures to protect access to banking services in local communities.
Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association have welcomed the M.P.s involvement in her attempt to protect banking services in Tunstall, but also in Kidsgrove and Burslem.
S.A.G.E. Residents Association has now attracted over 1,250 petition signatures in it’s attempt to save the Tunstall Co-op Bank from closure, and will soon be presenting it to senior members of the Co-operative Bank.
To hear Ruth Smeeth debating the bank closures issue in Parliament, please follow the link https://en-gb.facebook.com/ruthsmeethmp/
Please use the link to sign the online petition to help save the Tunstall Co-op Bank from Closure. https://www.change.org/p/the-co-operative-bank-support-our-local-tunstall-co-op-bank-from-closure
 Earlier today two vehicles in High Street, Tunstall were in collision, which lead to one of the cars becoming overturned.
It has been reported that a 26 year old man was taken to the Royal Stoke Hospital for treatment, and a 21 year old woman and a 14 year old girl escaped serious injury, although the woman received minor treatment at the scene by paramedics.
Tunstall High Street was closed for about an hour whilst the clear up operation took place.
Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses, and are requesting they call them on 101, quoting incident number 188 of February 5.
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/driver-26-taken-hospital-two-1169200
 Wider Impact Consultancy commissioned to support the future development and sustainability of the Goldenhill Community Centre.
Funded by the Big Lottery Awards for All programme, Stoke-on-Trent based Wider Impact Consultancy has been commissioned to carry out an independent feasibility study into the future development and sustainability of Goldenhill Community Centre.
Championed by Father Julian Green of St Joseph Catholic Church in Goldenhill (Funding commissioner), the study will involve close community consultation and exploring the current and future potential social and community impacts of the long-established community centre. Most significantly the study will explore the ‘business case’ for future development, which will include issues such as governance, future legal structures, management, staffing and long-term financial viability.
Subject to positive findings, the commission will be finalised by the delivery of a comprehensive Business Plan, with a final planned objective of supporting an asset transfer of the Community Centre from the local authority to a newly formed ‘not for profit’ community centred organisation.
Wider Impact Director Edwin Lewis says, “Whilst it is early days into this commission it is clear that Goldenhill Community Centre is valued by members of the local community, and is probably the only community facing resource in the area that has the potential to continue to deliver a wide range and variety of services, activities and community centred initiatives.
It is important that we listen and learn from local community members and organisations that utilise, or plan to utilise the centre; and to this end we will be arranging a wide variety of community consultation exercises. We will be working closely with established community groups and will be looking to meet with potential new partners and future patrons. Whilst there may be a ‘need’ for the centre, it is also important to confirm the future long-term economic sustainability of the building as a whole.
I therefore ask that anyone who wishes to contribute to the feasibility study to either ring me on 07871 165 780, or email me at edwin@widerimpact.com”.
Father Julian Green says, “We are pleased to have secured the funding for this feasibility study, and the journey has just been started.
We have established a working group to direct and support the role of Wider Impact and would welcome anyone who feels they that can add value to our work to join the working group.
A key to the success of the venture is ‘community support’ and we are looking to involve local community members, activists and local business owners and managers to play a positive role in the long-term sustainable future of such an important community facing resource”.
People are invited to a petition signing session outside the Co-op Bank in High Street, Tunstall in an attempt to save the branch from closure.
The session will commence at 10.30 a.m. on Friday 26th January and The Sentinel have been invited to hopefully feature the story in the newspaper.
Please use the link below to sign the online petition.
https://www.change.org/p/the-co-operative-bank-support-our-local-tunstall-co-op-bank-from-closure
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As part of the ongoing works on the Tunstall Arrow Project, Caddick will be continuing with slab works on a further 2 of the 5 units which involves works that may extend into the early hours of the morning.
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