Reporting local life since 1854 40p Monday, November 12, 2012 SEN-eO1-S2 [P/R] [P/R] VINCENT BLOW FOR VALIANTS ADAM: WIN WILL INSPIRE US BACK PAGE Biker injured in street crash A YOUNG motorcyclist suffered severe injuries after his bike was in collision with a van. The accident happened at the junction of Dividy Road and Croftfield Street, in Bentilee, at 7.40pm on Saturday. The biker, believed to be aged 18, was thrown from the machine on impact and was taken to hospital by paramedics. A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “He was unconscious and had suffered a head injury.” Police were last night unable to release details of his condition. The driver of the white Vauxhall van was detained at the scene and is now helping officers with their inquiries. Anyone with information about the crash should contact Staffordshire Police by calling 101, quoting serial number 695 of November 10. Dramatic end to record bid A PERSONAL trainer is recovering at home after collapsing just hours before he was due to set a new world record for cycling non-stop on an exercise bike. Craig Gilchrist, from Bentilee, had been cycling for almost 10 days and nights and had clocked up more than 213 hours on the bike. But the 32-year-old had to be taken to hospital after collapsing on Saturday. See page 2 IT’S VUE OR BUST Threat to shopping centre rivals as they bid for the same cinema chain SALUTE TO OUR HEROES SEE PAGES 6&7 BY ALEX CAMPBELL [email protected] ONE of two rival multi-million pound regeneration schemes planned for Hanley is under threat – because the same cinema operator is being lined up for both. The Sentinel can reveal Vue Cinemas is in talks over moving into the Potteries Shopping Centre’s planned £15 million extension and the £350 million City Sentral complex. But Vue will only commit to one and the top restaurant brands needed to support both schemes will follow wherever the cinema firm goes. Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), owner of the Potteries Shopping Centre, confirmed last week it is going ahead with a £15million extension to add a cinema and restaurants by 2015. Their decision comes despite Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s refusal to sell land needed for their original plans. Realis Estates, which is devel- oping City Sentral, today pledged it is ‘fully on track’ to deliver the shopping and leisure complex after serious doubts were raised about its viability. But Realis said its plans depend on having a multiplex cinema and restaurants. Managing director Duncan Mathieson said: “You can watch films at home, but you can’t have the family experience with the meal and movie. “The footfall that generates for a shopping centre makes the whole dynamic work. “The restaurants and cinema are a fundamentally important part of the region-wide status of our scheme. If that’s removed, we do have a difficulty. “As far as we’re concerned, there’s only one viable cinema operator at the present time. “Vue’s opinion is that they have to be the first cinema in the centre of the city. “They believe nobody else will come in once somebody is estab- lished and the restaurants which fit into our scheme will go where the cinema goes.” Vue Cinemas declined to com- ment. CSC said it plans to open the Potteries Shopping Centre extension in February, 2015, while Realis wants an early 2016 opening for City Sentral. CSC chief executive Mike But- terworth admitted no contracts have been signed with busi- nesses for its own plans. But he said tenants are ‘lined up’ and deals are ‘with lawyers’. Mr Mathieson believes the CSC extension will only benefit the Potteries Shopping Centre, while the 80 shops and 80-bed- room hotel at City Sentral will drag Hanley from 73rd place to among the top 30 retail destin- ations in the country. He added: “A small extension to the side of the Potteries does absolutely nothing for the future of the city centre. “Our scheme is a sea change for the entire city.” Hanley councillor Paul Breeze said: “In my view, the cinema should opt for the CSC development because it is imminent and we know it is going to happen.” ‘We are committed to project’: See Page 14 Picture: Steve Bould BACK PAGE RIVAL SCHEMES: The Realis site and the Potteries Shopping Centre. and toddler of the year 2012 DOUBLE VOTES TODAY PAGE 18 ©NM Tel. 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