The Leader's blog

Trafford is a place to do business

Our vision for Trafford is to create a borough where all our residents, businesses and communities prosper. That’s why I have been delighted with the announcements of major investment in the area.

Our planning committee recently approved Therme Manchester’s proposed £250m wellbeing resort in the borough which will create hundreds of jobs. There was more good news from Lipton Teas and Infusions, owners of the PG Tips brand, who revealed it had invested £40m on new machinery and training at its base on Trafford Park Road in Stretford.

And the delivery robot scheme we started in Sale and Timperley has proved so successful is has now been extended to Urmston, Flixton and Ashton-on-Mersey. Read more about the successful delivery robot scheme to be rolled out to other areas of Trafford.

While this is all positive news I realise that for some people and businesses life is a struggle with the cost-of-living crisis and as a council we will be doing all we can to offer support and help especially during the winter months.

When I became Council Leader I pledged that getting the basics right was an important priority for me. I know people want regular waste collections, you want roads repaired and our green spaces clean and tidy. That’s why I am pleased with the progress made by the One Trafford Partnership. (OTP) in recent times. In past we have had our reservations about the contract but I believe our concerns have been listened to and there has been a marked improvement in service delivery. 'Receiving the best service possible.' Bosses hail review which will strengthen partnership.

The summer holidays are barely over but like councils around the country we are looking at planning for our budget for the next financial year. Over the years Trafford has delivered budgets which have protected frontline services despite millions of pounds worth of cuts to our funding from central government. The next financial year is going to be particularly difficult and we will face some difficult decisions but we will continue to protect those services we deliver to some of the most vulnerable in our society.

Finally, to end on a positive note, Trafford has so much happening culturally and I must mention our own thriving arts venue Waterside in Sale which I can’t recommend highly enough. There is something for everyone in the coming weeks and months so I would urge you to come and enjoy one of the many exciting events it has to offer.

Best wishes.

Tom