Trafford’s political leaders have written a joint letter to residents thanking them for their efforts as the country faces its ‘greatest crisis in a generation.’
Labour leader Cllr Andrew Western, the leader of Trafford Council, alongside Conservative leader Cllr Nathan Evans, Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Jane Brophy, and Green Party leader Cllr Geraldine Coggins, have expressed their gratitude to everyone for staying at home, to help save lives, during the lockdown period.
The letter stated
We wanted to write as the leaders of all political groups in Trafford as we would like to thank you for the efforts you are all making as we face up to the greatest crisis in our generation.
As you would rightly expect, the four of us have been working closely together in recent weeks to ensure that the Council is doing all it can to support the local community at this time.
As a Council, we have transformed our working so that we can provide help to residents and businesses as quickly as possible.”
The letter continued: “Many Council staff have been voluntarily redeployed to support those efforts, with some of our office-based colleagues now working in care homes and dozens of our workers shifting their focus from business as usual activity to supporting the distribution of financial support to both residents and businesses.
The kind acts we have seen over these last few weeks – people helping out their elderly neighbours, local businesses doing right by their staff – have truly been amazing but not surprising as Trafford has always been a place that will rise to the challenge.
Our local community hubs have been up and running for a number of weeks and it has been fantastic to see partners coming together to ensure that we can provide for those in need.
We have also seen a flood of volunteers to help build and sustain that network of support, testament to the incredible community spirit we have come to appreciate here in Trafford.”
The leaders have also advised residents to reach out for emotional, financial and medical support.
The letter added:
Many people will have had their lives affected – either at home or at work – because of the pandemic.
Please know that if you are affected then there is help available and you should not suffer in silence
These are indeed trying times for us.
But this is when we most need to stick together and be one home, one street, one community, one Trafford.”
For more information about the support packages available visit: www.trafford.gov.uk/coronavirus
Posted on Wednesday 6th May 2020