'Ensure we have most family-friendly streets'

THIS year we've seen the huge potential that Stoke-on-Trent has as a place for people to come together to work, shop, relax, and enjoy events.

- Jane Ashworth - Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council

FAMILY-FRIENDLY STREETS: The People's Parade to mark Stoke-on-Trent's centenary showed the city's potential, according to Jane Ashworth.

Our Centenary programme of events - including the hugely successful People's Parade - have seen tens of thousands of people come together in joy and celebration.

Our city has put its best foot forward in the national, and even international, spotlight.

We've had some world-class cultural events, including becoming the first city to host the National Gallery's Art on Your Doorstep exhibition.

Time Out magazine listed us as one of the best places to visit in the UK.

And then there was the unveiling of Lemmy's statue in Burslem which packed the town centre with crowds of people and made headlines around the world.

At the same time, the face of the city is changing. We are investing in our town centres, including a new masterplan for Hanley.

We've seen the arrival of landmark developments like Goods Yard, making city-centre living available to a wider range of people and supporting new businesses.

Already, more than half of the apartments there have been taken up.