Burton In Depth Issue 1. May 5th
Inside this months issue Burton’s Regeneration We look at the Bargates and Andressey Passage plans Burton and Uttoxeter MP Andrew Griffiths In Pictures - The Octagon’s Easter Animal Farm
Contents In Pictures - The Easter Animal Farm
may 5, 2011, page 3
Regulars Getting to Know... Andrew Griffiths
Bargates and Andressey Passage regeneration plans A Word From the Ed.
Welcome to the launch issue of Burton In Depth, a magazine about the ins and outs of Burton. We are small, but aim to provide regular features such as Getting to Know... where we find out about the professional and personal lives of Burton’s high flyers, and Features on issues that matter to Burtonians. With this issue, a questionnaire’s will be provided for feedback so we can work ourselves to be helpful to you.
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The Regeneration of Burton-on-Trent Andressey Passage, Midland Grain Warehouse when will Bargates get it’s long awaited refurbishment? By Alex Harland
WITH THE green light given for the development of Andressey Passage, what will become of that other eyesore of Burton-on-Trent, the much debated Bargates? East Staffordshire Borough Council are keen to have the site rejuvenated as part of the Growth Point Programme. What with the views over the Washlands, the weir in the River Trent, and the proximity to the town centre, it is one the largest and most significant redevelopment sites in the town, but for years it has been an eyesore, and for years expectations over plans have been raised and subsequently dashed. At one stage in the proposed redevelopment of site, which is located at the northern end of High Street, discussions were underway with the superstore Tesco, to build a large store on the site, which has since been moved to Hawkins Lane. The current plans are to have construction work begin on the area by Christmas 2011, even though Tesco is yet to give up their ownership. The Council say that the overall vision is to deliver ‘outstanding high quality mixed use development’ which encourages
Above: The delapidated remains of Bargates. Left: The Midland Grain Warehouse before its rejuvination as a hotel.
‘access to and enjoyment of the riverside’, with three potential options for the use of the site. Option one includes a retail led development, consisting of a large store with smaller shops, restaurants and parking, option two is a mixed use development with shops, offices, apartments and hotel, with parking, and option three is a residential scheme, with small shops, apartment and residential blocks which will include town houses and penthouses, a café and parking. When put to a public consultation, the preferred option was indeed for option three. Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton-on-Trent said that the development of the site is ‘fundamental to the future of Burton.’ “We’ve got one of nicest spots of any town anywhere in the country looking over the Washlands, and yet for years it’s been a
crumbling eyesore. “The right development will rejuvenate the town and make it a haven for people coming for a night out and will bring a lot of prosperity to the town.” With the long coming discussions over Bargates again looking close to a conclusion, it will be one of a spate of developments which are happening in Burton, with the Midland Grain Warehouse off Derby Road being given the green light to become a 68-bedroom hotel, and the application for a proposed Debenhams store in Burton-on-Trent, there are high hopes for the rejuvenation of the town. Mr Griffiths said: “This is the most exciting period of redevelopment for the town centre in generations, and I will be doing a lot of work to influence plans to get something that Burtonians can be proud of.”
may 5, 2011, page 5
Andressey Passage warms up for face lift
The Refinery night club before the planned regeneration begins. Picture by: Alex Harland
Could green light for the planned rejuvination of Andressey Passage and The Refinery night club stop the violence? By Alex Harland
IT HAS been several months since the Blores Hall Directors Pension Fund successfully applied to East Staffordshire Borough Council (ESBC) for permission to redevelop the troubled Andressey Passage in Burton-on-Trent. The rejuvenation of this problematic area of Burton, which has often been the location of violence in the town centre, will see the construction of seven onebedroom apartments in the disused Refinery night club, which was popular with clubbers before it closed down in 2001. The plans also include the erection of a two and a half storey building in the open space in front of the club, which will contain three more apartments and room on the ground floor which will be used for shops, restaurants, offices or professional companies. Gainsborough Property were approached by the Fund to draw up the plans for the Passage. A spokesperson from the Derby-based firm has
said that they were pleased to be given to go ahead by the council, but despite this, access issues were preventing an immediate start.
“We could start if we wanted, but it is not ideal” Hannah Ellis, who is in charge of the proposed development said: “We could start if we wanted, but it is not ideal. If we can arrange a vehicle access, that would be more preferable.” With the developments given the green light, Burton and Uttoxeter MP Andrew Griffiths also has high hopes for the area, which has become a black spot for graffiti, vandalism and crime. The Conservative MP said: “I am pleased to see that there is going to be a redevelopment there, which I am sure will put a stop to a lot of the problems.” A staunch campaigner against violence and knife
crime in Burton, Mr Griffiths is committed to making the town centre a safer place for people who are on a night out, and also to stop Burton from getting a reputation as a troubled town. He said: “I was particularly concerned because we had a spate of incidents involving violence in the town pretty soon after I became the MP, we had a number of violent assaults, culminating in the sad death of Connor Upton. “I’ve been working with the police, publicans and the council to do more to remove the risk of knife crime. “The reality is that it only takes a second when you’re carrying a knife to result in a lifetime of regrets, and possibly the end of somebody’s life.” The hopes of Mr Griffiths reflect the hopes of both his constituents and the council, and heralds the development of many of Burton’s landmarks.
page 6, may 5, 2011
Getting to know... Andrew Griffiths Part I - The Politician
We talk to the MP of Burton-on-Trent and Uttoxeter and get to know the politician, and also the man behind the suit. IT’S A scorching day when I get to Burton’s Conservative headquarters in St Pauls Square to interview Mr Griffiths, and I am admittedly nervous about meeting a Member of Parliament. However, my nerves are put to rest when he comes out and he is as friendly as they come. After introductions and a brief explanation of what In Depth Burton hopes to achieve, and the sorts of questions I am going to ask, we begin:
“It’s Been a real privelege to be MP.” Burton In Depth: What
has the first year as Burton and Uttoxeter MP been like? Andrew Griffiths: It’s been the best year of my life without a shadow of a doubt, and I’m lucky enough to have the best job in the world. I can’t quite believe just how much I enjoy the job, it really is the most interesting, rewarding,
frustrating, satisfying job anybody could ever wish to have. No two days are the same, you get to meet some really incredible people, and you get to see some fascinating and interesting things. It’s been a real privilege to be the MP. BID: What were your thoughts when you were elected? AG: Oh crikey what do I do next? You work for years to become an MP, to get elected, and then the returning officer announces the results. But then nobody tells you what to do next. There isn’t a beginner’s guide, there isn’t a Haynes Manual to being an MP, and you have to basically use your own initiative to decide what sort of MP you are and how you represent the people
Andrew Griffiths at Conservative HQ Pictures by: Alex Harland
who sent you to parliament. I think I’m a sort of down to earth, enthusiastic sort of bloke, who likes to get stuck in and say what they think, so that’s the approach I’ve taken to being an MP. I shout about the great things we do in Burton, an am a bit of a cheerleader for local charities and businesses.
“My mum says I’ve got the ‘rogue gene’”
BID: What made you decide to
pursue a career in politics? AG: I’m the youngest of five, and my father was a Conservative councillor in Dudley where I’m from for over 30 years. My mum
says I’ve got the ‘rogue gene’. I’m the only one in the family who followed dad’s footsteps and went into politics. I’m very proud of my dad, he was the Mayor of Dudley, and a really good community activist, a good councillor. It was him that inspired me to get involved in politics in the first place. If I’m honest I still can’t believe that I’ve gone from delivering leaflets in Dudley to sitting on the green benches in Westminster. I still pinch myself sometimes when I walk through the doors into the chamber that its actually me. But without a doubt, every day when I walk in I get a sense of anticipation and excitement, and that’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.
BID: You are the Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Beer Group, and also the Secretary for the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) for the Misuse of Drugs and Alcohol. Do you ever find it difficult to support these often contradicting points?
“The way I look at it is that they’re two sides of the same coin.”
AG: Burton’s brewing industry
is hugely important to me and the town, and I think there’s a lot more to be done in getting extra support for the brewing and pub industry, which employs 4,500 people in Burton. The way I look at it is that they’re two sides of the same coin. I want to see a healthy, prosperous, thriving brewing industry, but I also want to make sure that there’s proper support for people who have an addiction problem.
may 5, 2011, page 7
Mr Griffiths does all he can to promote the brewing industry in Burton.
I do everything I can to promote beer, which I think is a relatively low strength, sensible form of drinking that is enjoyed by millions of people across the country in a very responsible way. We’re one of the luckiest towns in the country, because we have got the Burton Addiction Centre, which has proved to have phenomenal results in rehabilitating people with addiction problems. They have something like a 60 percent success rate. I do an awful lot of work with them, because I think it’s hugely important you don’t just write people off. Just because you are an addict doesn’t mean your life is a write off, and with proper support and help to get clean, people can have rewarding, fulfilling family lives.
BID: You have put a lot of effort
into tackling knife crime in the Burton area. How do you feel that campaign is going, and what are your views on the proposed development of the problematic Andressey Passage? AG: I was particularly concerned because we had a spate of incidents involving violence in the town very soon after I became the MP, we had a number of violent assaults which culminated in the sad death of Connor Upton. As an MP my number one priority is to make sure people are safe,
but secondly I didn’t want Burton to get a reputation for being a troubled town. I’ve been working with police, publicans and nightclub owners, and pub watch and the town council to do more to remove the risk of knife crime. The work we’ve done in trying to promote Burton as a knife free zone and to make people realise that if they bring a knife into Burton that it will be found and that they’ll be barred from entering pubs in the town for a number of years. This not only stops knife crime happening, it also gives people the reassurance that they can come into the town and have a safe and happy night out, and that’s important if we’re going to have a thriving night time economy.
“I think you can build in or build out crime.”
In relation to Andressey Passage, I think you can either build in or build out crime. If bad thinking from a developer or builder creates places like Andressey Passage, which was a blackspot for violence on many occasions, I am pleased to see that there’s going to be a redevelopment there which I am sure will put an end to those problems. Words and pictures by Alex Harland
page 8, may 5, 2011
Getting to know... Andrew Griffiths Part II - The man behind the suit
By Alex Harland
Burton In Depth: You come
from an engineering background: do you ever miss or think about being a part of that? Andrew Griffiths: I do. There’s something brilliant about making things, and I think we don’t do enough in this country to promote and support manufacturing. I also think it is important for MP’s to have an understanding of real life, the way people live their lives, and the pressures on businesses, particularly small businesses. I think that the experience I gained is the most important experience I have in doing my job as an MP. Because I understand the issues and pressures on people if you’re running a business, and you’ve got workers who are reliant on you to pay their mortgage every month. When I’m touring a factory or see something being made I do sometimes hanker after the past, and I miss it a bit. But, hopefully, I’m doing more for manufacturing than I ever did when I was in the business.
BID: When you get spare time, do you have any hobbies you enjoy doing?
Andrew is an avid Woles supporter. Picture by: Alex Harland
AG: It’s an interesting defini-
tion of spare time, because quite often I’m out doing things around Burton such as an event organised by a charity or group that some
“I’m a bit of a curryholic!”
people class as work, that I class as enjoyment, because I get a lot of pleasure out of it. When I have nothing in the diary I like to have a few pints of real ale with mates, and I’m a bit of a curry-holic so a few beers followed by an Indian meal, is my idea of heaven.
BID: Do you follow any particular sports? AG: I love sports, I’m a big sports fan. Watching rather than participating sadly these days, but I’ll sit in front of the TV and watch any form of sport. Rugby, football, any sport.
I am a big football fan, a lifelong Wolves (Wolverhampton) supporter. In recent years I have become a real Brewers fan, and I regularly go to the Pirelli Stadium and cheer on [Paul] Peschisolido’s boys’. I think we have a great club in Burton Albion, and I pray we fight off relegation. We’re lucky to have a football club that plays such an important role in the community. We have a very community focused football team, who do a lot of good work in the town as well as cheering us up when they win.
BID: What sort of music do you enjoy listening to? AG: I love music, it’s a great way to relax. I have an eclectic mix of music, anything from Michael Buble, to Dizzee Rascal to Elbow. I don’t have a particular genre or type of music, so I listen to any form of music really as long as I can turn it up loud.
BID: Do you enjoy watching
films, and if so, what is your favourite? AG: I like going to the cinema, but the sad thing is that too often these days I don’t get to see the ending because I fall asleep. My favourite film of last year was Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio. I thought that was an excellent film that kept me awake throughout. I also liked Toy Story 3 last year.
may 5, 2011, page 9
In Pictures - The Octagon Centres’ Easter Farm
An egg-cellent day out for Easter weekend at the Octagon Centre, Burton.
Words and Pictures by Alex Harland
TO MARK the beginning of spring, The Octagon Shopping Centre was host to an animal farm from 11am until 4pm on Saturday, April 23. This year’s animal farm included chicks, ducklings, rabbits, and guinea pigs among other more exotic animals from Tropical Inc. Octagon Centre Manager Peter Hardingham said: “We are delighted to be celebrating spring this year with our wonderful Animal Farm. “Spring is a joyous occasion for many, with the start of the warmer weather, the birth of new baby animals and of course Easter! “We were delighted to host the animal farm at the centre. It was lovely to see visitor’s young and old appreciating the animals and celebrating the Easter weekend.” Micaela Perry from the Wocestershire based rescue sanctuary attended the event with information on the animals on show and to supervise petting and handling.
Daniel Morris, aged 6, with one of the animal farms’ ducklings.
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Clockwise from top left: A venomous Chilean Rose Tarantula stayed safely inside its tank for the day; 21 year old Paddy Dowling got to hold an Australian Carpet Python...; ...A few minutes before it decided to try and hold him; People were eager to see the variety of animals on show...; ...And the rabbits helped to draw them in; Micaela Perry from Tropical Inc with an uncharacteristically bold hedgehog; The Guinea Pigs and their pups were very popular...; ... As were the chicks and ducklings.