Reporting local life since 1854 40pMonday, November 12, 2012

SEN

-eO1

-S2

[P/R

]

[P/R]

VINCENT BLOWFOR VALIANTS

ADAM: WIN WILL INSPIRE US BAC KPAG E

Biker injuredin street crashA YOUNG motorcyclistsuffered severe injuries afterhis bike was in collision witha van.

The accident happened atthe junction of Dividy Roadand Croftfield Street, inBentilee, at 7.40pm onS at u rd ay.

The biker, believed to beaged 18, was thrown from themachine on impact and wastaken to hospital byp a r a m e d i c s.

A spokesman for WestMidlands Ambulance Servicesaid: “He was unconsciousand had suffered a headi n j u r y. ”

Police were last nightunable to release details of hiscondition.

The driver of the whiteVauxhall van was detained atthe scene and is now helpingofficers with their inquiries.

Anyone with informationabout the crash shouldcontact Staffordshire Policeby calling 101, quoting serialnumber 695 of November 10.

Dramatic endto record bidA PERSONAL trainer isrecovering at home aftercollapsing just hours beforehe was due to set a new worldrecord for cycling non-stop onan exercise bike.

Craig Gilchrist, fromBentilee, had been cycling foralmost 10 days and nights andhad clocked up more than 213hours on the bike.

But the 32-year-old had to betaken to hospital aftercollapsing on Saturday.See page 2

IT’S VUEOR BUSTThreat to shopping centre rivals asthey bid for the same cinema chain

SALUTE TOOUR HEROES

SEE PAGES 6&7

BY ALEX CAMPBELLalex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk

ONE of two rival multi-millionpound regeneration schemesplanned for Hanley is underthreat – because the samecinema operator is being linedup for both.

The Sentinel can reveal VueCinemas is in talks over movinginto the Potteries ShoppingC e n t re ’s planned £15 millionextension and the £350 millionCity Sentral complex.

But Vue will only commit toone and the top restaurantbrands needed to support bothschemes will follow whereverthe cinema firm goes.

Capital Shopping Centres(CSC), owner of the PotteriesShopping Centre, confirmed lastweek it is going ahead with a£15million extension to add acinema and restaurants by 2015.

Their decision comes despiteStoke-on-Trent City Council’srefusal to sell land needed fortheir original plans.

Realis Estates, which is devel-oping City Sentral, todaypledged it is ‘fully on track’ todeliver the shopping and leisurecomplex after serious doubtswere raised about its viability.

But Realis said its plansdepend on having a multiplexcinema and restaurants.

Managing director DuncanMathieson said: “You can watch

films at home, but you can’t havethe family experience with themeal and movie.

“The footfall that generatesfor a shopping centre makes thewhole dynamic work.

“The restaurants and cinemaare a fundamentally importantpart of the region-wide status ofour scheme. If that’s removed,we do have a difficulty.

“As far as we’re concerned,t h e re ’s only one viable cinemaoperator at the present time.

“Vu e ’s opinion is that theyhave to be the first cinema in thecentre of the city.

“They believe nobody else willcome in once somebody is estab-lished and the restaurantswhich fit into our scheme will gowhere the cinema goes.”

Vue Cinemas declined to com-ment.

CSC said it plans to open thePotteries Shopping Centreextension in February, 2015,while Realis wants an early 2016opening for City Sentral.

CSC chief executive Mike But-terworth admitted no contractshave been signed with busi-nesses for its own plans. But hesaid tenants are ‘lined up’ anddeals are ‘with lawyers’.

Mr Mathieson believes theCSC extension will only benefitthe Potteries Shopping Centre,while the 80 shops and 80-bed-room hotel at City Sentral willdrag Hanley from 73rd place toamong the top 30 retail destin-ations in the country.

He added: “A small extensionto the side of the Potteries doesabsolutely nothing for thefuture of the city centre.

“Our scheme is a sea changefor the entire city.”

Hanley councillor PaulBreeze said: “In my view, thecinema should opt for the CSCdevelopment because it isimminent and we know it isgoing to happen.”

‘We are committed to project’:See Page 14

Picture: Steve Bould

BAC KPAG E

RIVAL SCHEMES: The Realis site and the Potteries Shopping Centre.

and toddlerof the year 2012

DOUBLEVOT E STO DAYPAGE 18

©NMTel. 01782 286006

www.hair-and-co.co.uk

Stafford Street, Hanley

Opposite Wilkinson’s

✃

on production of this advert.Not to be used in conjunction with

any other offer.Valid until 26/11/12

Offer not available on Saturdays

10%OFF