Why plans to demolish a roundabout are wrong- Tristram Hunt

For me, it marks the transition from city to country, from the urban world of the Six Towns and encircling villages to the wilder-ness and moorlands of the Peaks.

It is not the most significant or beautiful space in the world.

This is no Trafalgar Square, but with its distinctive planting, old-fashioned signage and street lamps it is an identifiable and much-loved part of Leek.

Above all, it provides the backdrop to the Nicholson War Memorial, one of the tallest in the country and the scene for many acts of remembrance and respect.

So it is all the more astonishing to learn that Staffordshire County Council appears intent on ruining this very special part of the Moorlands, all to accommodate a new Sainsbury's supermarket.

The philistines in the traffic management division want to replace the roundabout with a series of traffic lights, infuriating both residents and the Royal British Legion.

An opposition petition has garnered some 3,000 signatures and it is clearly time the county council thought again. For what is lost can so rarely ever be restored.

Of course, the 350 new jobs at the store and warehouses promised by the Sainsbury development are to be welcomed – although one always needs to count those against the prospect of job losses in other retail outlets.

The proposed £40 million development will see the construction of 79 new homes and apartments, of which 50 per cent will be 'affordable'.

There will be a recycling centre, conservation and public park area, as well as improvements to the adjacent Brindley's Corn Mill and Conservative Workingmen's Club. There will be bus services and upgrading of local roads. All to the good.

But alongside that comes the elimination of Leek roundabout for a gaudy forest of traffic lights, likened by campaigners to the Blackpool illuminations. Eight-year-old Alexandra Eeley, a Westwood First School pupil, had the right idea when she wrote to the Prime Minister complaining that, "it would not look better with lights and it would look all boring." It certainly would. Something distinctive and unique will becoming something bland and dull.

The concerns of the Royal British Legion (RBL) are equally compelling.

"Members are all of the opinion that the traffic island must stay," said Fred Duffield, pictured below left, secretary of the Leek branch of the RBL. "It would be disrespectful to the servicemen who this memorial is dedicated to." It is also disrespectful to the residents of Leek.

I'm not sure J Sainsbury plc has covered itself in glory when it comes to urban architecture in North Staffordshire.

While the staff and managers of the Stoke store, for instance, make it a great environment for shopping, the shed which sits in London Road is no great work of civic design. And they have a bit of a cheek calling it 'Minton House'.

There is also a worrying tendency among some developers to think they can get away with second best in North Staffordshire. The supermarket designs we get are not the ones proposed in Derby, Cheltenham or parts of Manchester and Birmingham.

There is an assumption local authorities will always say 'yes'.

I, for one, still remain horrified by plans to rebrand the East-West Shopping Precinct in Hanley as 'City Sentral.' It is patronising, wrong-headed and embarrassing. It shows a lack of respect for local opinion and pride – and is the same mind set which allows J Sainsbury's to ruin Leek roundabout. It is not as if supermarkets stay around forever. In Stoke-on-Trent we see supermarkets opening and closing with furious speed.

In Newcastle, one Sainsbury's has closed for another to open. But no-one remembers another supermarket or traffic light.

What they do remember is something different and unexpected, like the green acreage of Leek's roundabout.
It is somewhere to look forward to, not simply pass through.

In theory, the consultation on the road layout remains open until November. In reality, the county council isn't going to budge.

On the very site of a war memorial, the local authority has surrendered to Sainsbury's wishes. And in the future, my drive to the Peaks will have lost just a little of its magic.

Roundabout from memorial

Lets fight this obscene move- Brian Pointon

I see after the comments made by Councillor Ralphs that I need to again get out my chain ready for another campaign to save our roundabout.

How is it that councillors who do not live in Leek seem to be at the forefront to get rid of our landmarks?
They are demolishing our town bit by bit. Replacing the roundabout with a memorial garden this is not what the roundabout is about, it's part of our town's history.

Come on Leek, get together and fight this obscene move.

Our roundabout is now world news not just a local issue.

Have planners visited the town?- Jayne Baxter

I am writing to reiterate the strength of feeling about the proposed road changes around Leek. On a weekly basis I read the disgruntled letters that have appeared and wonder whether the Highway planners have ever set foot into the town to observe the flow of traffic at different times of the day?

My objections arise not from sentiment but from the practicalities. Are the planners aware of the topography of Overton Bank? I witnessed the difficulties experienced by a heavy lorry travelling from Macclesfield  stationery on Mill St. It was pouring with rain and the road conditions slippy. The traffic jam was considerable as the lorry driver attempted to move with spinning wheels and no grip. When traffic lights and delays are introduced then this will happen frequently The no right turn directive will send all traffic toward Stoke through the cente of town. As we all know to avoid the lights people will lead the side streets and the area will be a rat run. And of course this is in an area with the Safer Routes to school initiative- let the children ravelling to school beware

Common sense says that a re-think of these plans is a priority. I have a lovely old picture of old Leek  of sheep travelling along Mill St. Let not the modern motorist be driven like lambs to the slaughter

Community leader throws down the gauntlet- roundabout or jobs?

A community leader has thrown down the gauntlet to protesters opposing the removal of Leek's landmark roundabout. Cllr A Hart  says that people have a choice between the traffic island next to the Nicholson War memorial  or a £45 million investment  and hundreds of new jobs

Mr Hart spoke out as a petition to save the roundabout was launched to present to parliament. Under the Sainsbury plan to develop the area the roundabout would be demolished and replaced with traffic lights. Mr Hart said that under the present administration was elected administration was elected in May when several people stood on the roundabout issue

" At the election we were given a mandate by the people in the strongest possible way to carry on therefore the majority of the people are happy. Also the parish poll held in January where the majority of the people did not vote. People say that we are not creating jobs, when we do then we are beaten off with a stick. The question needs to be asked. Do you want the investment of £45 million or do you want the roundabout"

Cllr Pam Wood who was elected to the council on the platform of saving the roundabout believes that  Sainsburys has bought Leek." It must be stated that the majority are not against the jobs or the investment which is a great thing, but not at the expense of the town centre"

Cllr Hart said it was madness to suggest that Sainsbury's has bought Leek. " What message is this sending out to investors who want to invest in Leek. Many people have been made redundant and are crying out for jobs. This is a real opportunity and we need to inject some reality into the situation

No need to consult over highway alterations says Cllr Wain

Development chiefs hit back at the barrage of critism after it emerged that they failed to notify English Heritage  over controversal road alterations  that will reshape the town centre

As part of the move to bring Sainsburys to the Churnets work site SMDC has approved a host of road changes

Last month it emerged that EH have not been consulted on the plans which includes work around listed buildings such as St Edward church.

However development boss Edwin Wain has hit out at community leaders outraged by the relevation

He said " Stories in the media gave the impression that the council should consult EH on the town centre highway changes approved as part of the Sainsbury planning application at the Churnet Works

Guidance published at English Heritage clearly states that when a local authority feels that the work carried out would affect a grade listed building it must consult with EH

But Cllr Wain believes that there is no need to do this but the Council might consult voluntary contact the agency.

Our roundabout is iconic of Leek- Ken Pepper

It angers me to see how the face of our town can be defaced by the night of the giant retailers such as Sainsburys: I refer of course to the proposed removal of our roundabout so that we can have an alternative venue to purchase our baked beans and cat food.

Sainsburys know that the local council does not have the financial clout to stand up to the them and fight them in court and those massive companies steam roller over everything and anyone in their path who protests against what they are doing.

I have to ask do we need another supermarket? It seems to me that Sainsburys will have the same range as Morrisons- and its not as if we are as big as Manchester or Birmingham. It only takes a few minutes to get from Churnet Works to Morrisons. In addition we also have a large Coop, Aldi Asda and Farmfoods to do our shopping. The town is well served by national chainstores.

What about the independents? Small businesses will suffer, the argument that Sainsbury will bring in people, they will visit Sainsburys and that is all they might visit the cafe and get home before their frozen food defrosts

Leek is becoming a clone town and identical shopping experience duplicated all over the country. We are being colonised, walk through Leek and check it out.

We need a town with individuality to attract people here, small business need to be encouraged not squeezed out by the retail giants. Our roundabout is iconic of Leek. With the monument behind it it is a beautiful little bit of the town and to think it replaced by a drab faceless traffic lights is tragic