My wife and I have lived in Trafford (Stretford and Urmston end) for over 40 years. All of our 3 children were born while we’ve been here (our daughter in what was then Park Hospital, now Trafford General – the first ever NHS hospital), and all 3 still live here. It’s a great place, with a heritage and history to be proud of (with a few gaffes from time to time of course).
But, as with any place, its greatness lies with its people and their communities. I believe it is important that local people have control over the things that happen in their community, and that they are able to find out plans and proposals for the area in plenty of time to discuss them and react to them, and also to feel that their views are heard and acted upon.
Over the past few years, I feel that there have been a number of occasions when local residents have been ignored or kept in the dark about things that the Council would like to do – not always negative I hasten to add, though the positive ones tend to be announced with a fanfare and the worrying ones kept pretty quiet and vague. I can’t claim to be able to keep tabs on everything that goes on, but I do try to keep up with what the Council and others are doing that might affect us – mainly in the north of the Borough where I live, but also in other parts when I get wind of funny things going on!
Some of you may remember in the heady days of the “Refreshed” Stretford Masterplan and the Turn Moss debacle that I started a blog to try to keep discussion active. Due to my total incompetence with most things technical, I lost the blog site, but I think things in Trafford are at a stage now – after a long period of Tory austerity administration and latterly a pandemic – where there are matters that could do with being discussed openly, to search out public opinion and share knowledge, expertise and information. So at great emotional and mental expense, I’ve started up the blog again. Please share and get involved with it if you can and want to.
All the best,
John
Traffordnorthend 