Stoke Nub News readers have spoken out after Stoke-on-Trent became the first city in the UK to declare a "heritage emergency". 

In January, Stoke-on-Trent City Council launched a new prospectus setting out a 10-year plan calling for £325 million of public and private investment to safeguard the city's historic assets. 

The prospectus, called 'The Potteries: A National Heritage Emergency', states: "The challenge is arduous but the potential to create a heritage destination of international appeal would provide cultural and economic returns that far outweigh the initial investment and ensure a sustainable future for the city's heritage and reputation as the cradle of the industrial revolution.    

"We therefore face an immediate choice. It is a choice for the nation, not just the city." 

"It's an investment that has got to be made regardless of the cost."

In response to the declaration many Stoke-on-Trent locals spoke about the importance of preserving the city's heritage 

One Facebook user welcomed the investment, commenting: "It's an investment that has got to be made regardless of the cost. 

"Our heritage is what defines us - and it is our responsibility to preserve it to the best of our abilities. 

"We are so blessed to have so many wonderful historic buildings, and yet we have failed them. Each and every one of them should be restored and repurposed effectively." 

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Other readers also stressed the importance of ensuring that the buildings are not just saved but repurposed to benefit the local community. 

Another commenter said: "Saving the buildings is one thing, but they need to be brought into use not kept so that folks can say how nice they are. 

"They are not enriching anyone's life unless they are put to some use for the community." 

"Restoring pride, investment, and cultural heritage here is important!"

Other commenters celebrated Stoke-on-Trent's historic contributions to the ceramics industry – something also championed by council leader, Cllr Jane Ashworth, who said: "Saving our historic sites is not just a local issue - Stoke-on-Trent should be an international jewel.   

"We're the world capital of ceramics, a World Craft City with ambitions to become a UNESCO Creative City and the birthplace of a global industry. 

"But without urgent action our nationally and internationally significant sites could be lost forever."  

One member of the public commented: "Despite what the capital thinks about us, Stoke-on-Trent is historically very important to the UK ceramics industry. 

"Restoring pride, investment, and cultural heritage here is important! 

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"It sends a message to the world we are loud and proud and still producing some of the best Pottery in the world." 

The same commenter also added: "Sadly, these buildings are only in this state because of neglect."

The council recently committed £6.5 million to help safeguard three historic sites including the Wedgwood Institute (image via Nub News)

"Unless there is very significant investment, the city will die."

Others noted the scale of the issue, with some suggesting that the declaration has come 'too late'. 

Stoke-on-Trent is home to more than 275 listed buildings, 22 conservation areas, five scheduled monuments and five registered historic parks, and the council has explained that sixteen sites are officially at risk, with many more in serious decline. 

One commenter said: "The whole town has been an emergency since 2001. A bit too late as per usual!" 

Another said: "If the money had been spent wisely in the past 20 years we wouldn't be in this mess." 

A third commenter added: "Unless there is very significant investment, the city will die.  

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"Old buildings falling down is just something that happens when no money is spent on them.  

"Do Stokies really care about their history, or is it just one more thing that can be dismissed with a clever little scoff just to show how hard we all are?" 

"This cannot become anyone's 'vanity project' rather a legacy for our six towns and city."

Other responses stressed that all six towns should receive support. 

One commenter said: "I agree the Wedgwood Building and Burslem Market (if it's not gone too far) should be supported, but not to the exclusion of all other towns. 

"We have six towns and each should receive support, because it simply will not be acceptable to the wider public unless it is fair and proportionate. 

"This cannot become anyone's ' vanity project' rather a legacy for our six towns and city." 

They added: "We only need to spend any funding received on heritage buildings that are publicly owned; that can realistically be put back into public use, protected, preserved and maintained thereafter. 

"Lost buildings are just that, and it's far too late when we have all seen them crumble and fall." 

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In a previous statement, Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said the push to protect the city's heritage assets should "touch all four corners of the city and all six towns".  

He added: "We aren't a place of the past, we are a place of the future. 

"Our job now is to make the past and the future come together to make something even more special."