A 'hostile' moat at Stoke-on-Trent's main museum will be removed as part of a £5 million revamp, after becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council revealed its plans for the latest phase of improvements at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery (PMAG), after securing funding from Arts Council England.

The biggest external change will involve covering over the moat at the front and side of the museum with new terraced areas. The main entrance will be moved to the corner of the building, with new steps leading up from Broad Street, and a wheelchair-accessible ramp from Bethesda Street.

And the museum's cafe will be moved to the foyer, where the shop is currently located, with space for extra seating on the new terrace, creating a 'vibrant atmosphere' for visitors. The musuem's existing entrance is accessed via a walkway over the moat, which has long been a magnet for drug dealers and rough sleepers.

A 'hostile' moat at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery will be removed after becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour (LDRS).

In previous years the council has erected temporary fencing to block off the part of the moat beneath the walkway. The council says the moat is 'increasingly detrimental to the museum and very off putting for visitors', and that the new terraces, while more costly, will be a better solution than simply gating off the area.

Artist's impressions showing the new entrance and terrace have been released, and members of the public are now being invited to have their say on the proposals. A planning application has been submitted this week, and if approved, work is due to get underway next year.

Internal changes will include the creation of an artist in residence room, and the conversion of the three-storey sculpture court into an open storage gallery. The latter will increase storage capacity while also allowing the public to view items when they are not on display.

Richard Woods, from Urban Fabric Architects, says the design proposals were developed after consulting with stakeholders, including staff and partner organisations.

This work resulted in a number of key ideas, such as 'improving external appeal', 'a more welcoming and exciting entrance' and 'removing the hostile moat'.

He said: "PMAG is a fantastic visitor attraction with a world class collection, but, being over 60 years old, it's definitely in need of improvements to bring it up to date."

The new proposals for PMAG follow the creation of the Spitfire gallery, and the opening of the relocated city archive and reading room. The revamp will be carried out in two phases, with the internal works being done first, and the museum will remain open to the public.

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READ MORE: Flats and community space proposed for historic Stoke-on-Trent building

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