The Leader's blog

Improving the health and wellbeing of our residents is top priority

The health and wellbeing of everyone in Trafford is always a top priority for the Council and that’s why we are working closely with our Public Health Team to do our best to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

At the moment it is business as usual for all our services but we are not complacent about the potential issues we may face, and we are putting the necessary preparations in place if the situation worsens.  Remember, we can also do our bit by making sure we listen to the health advice and wash our hands properly.

Continuing with the health and wellbeing theme, I was really pleased to attend the unveiling of a climbing wall at the soon to be opened ‘move Urmston’ leisure centre which has undergone a multi-million pound redevelopment.

I have always said it is important that we listen as a Council and an example of this is the progress we making with the process of a proposed Community Asset Transfer for the George H Carnall Leisure Centre in Urmston after people told us they wanted to keep the building open. There is still work to do but everyone is committed to a positive outcome which will benefit the local community.

Elsewhere, I was delighted with the news the Metrolink Trafford Park Line extension is going to open earlier than scheduled.

One of the Council’s corporate priorities is to improve the transport links in the borough so this is a massive boost. Tens of thousands of people who come to Trafford Park and the surrounding areas for work and leisure, including Manchester United and the intu Trafford centre will now be able to leave their cars at home and use modern public transport.

Setting a budget which helps us achieve our corporate priorities is challenging in the current financial climate. But we have managed to do so without any job losses and cuts to front line services.

We have also managed to protect services to some of the most vulnerable in our society, something I am very proud of, while at the same time having one of the lowest council taxes in the North West.

Finally, it was with great sadness that I received the news about the death of long standing Labour councillor Jane Baugh.

Jane was a fantastic colleague and friend. She was an incredibly talented, committed and passionate politician who always fought for what she believed in and she will be missed. My thoughts are with her husband Peter and their three sons Jonathan, David and James at this sad time.