martin and i attended this meeting on behalf of the villas residents last week. it was NOT hot date and i have told him to think more carefully next time he asks me out!
however, we have information about:

• free local circular walks - indeed leaflets if anyone wants one and a set of maps.
• assistance from workers from the LA in finding and applying for grants for a variety of purposes. this looked quite promising for us if we were so inclined. there is also a N staffs funding fair on 6 oct 10.30 - 3 drop in at Hanley museum - a variety of funders will be there and there will be surgeries for grant applications.
• info about the new stoke shop next to the spode arch - a project aimed at enhancing the local area in various ways, including more walks and some art!
• a juicy titbit of info from Pauline Joynson, local councillor, who insists that she has heard at a meeting that the villas' gates are going to be put back. she insisted she knew better than us so keep watching!
• date of next meeting is 16 sept 6.30 at boothen neighbourhood centre. go if you fancy a particular kind of suffering and humour. there was a variety of neighbourhood groups there, most much more public spirited than ours. people were very friendly and slightly intrigued by us all i think.