Following complaints from residents, North Trafford Local Conservatives launched a campaign at the end of 2021 to highlight the impact on residents of events at the two Old Trafford stadiums of Manchester United and Lancashire County Cricket Club. The campaign was launched following residents sharing their stories with Conservatives of how they are impacted by traffic congestion, illegal parking and Anti-Social Behaviour on event days.
Following the launch of the Conservative campaign, shortly afterwards, in February 2022, Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Police coincidentally announced that they would take action against illegal parking and the council also set up a council committee in June 2022 to look at the impact of events on the local community. The committee was due to report back to the council’s Executive committee in June 2023 and the Terms of Reference of the report “proposes actions to be taken to address those issues” and “sets out a realistic timeline for completion of those actions.”
In January 2024, that report is being presented to the council’s Executive committee and North Trafford Local Conservatives have major concerns regarding the report.
Commenting on the report, Stuart Donnelly, a local resident who lives near the two stadiums and is Deputy Chair Political of North Trafford Local Conservatives said “Apart from being delivered 7 months late, the report is a wasted opportunity to address what it is really like for residents in Gorse Hill and Cornbrook and the wider Trafford area on event days. Residents have reported to us that they feel that they are disrespected by a sizeable minority of fans who believe it is acceptable to park their vehicles where they like, or consume alcohol or illegal drugs on the streets or urinate in public or block access to resident’s properties.
“The report is very weak and includes recommendations such as to “spread awareness of the monthly newsletter to ensure people are made aware of when matches are being held” but doesn’t address any of the Anti-Social Behaviour on match days, nor does it provide a timeline to implement any of its weak recommendations as promised in the Terms of Reference of the council review.
“To sum up their performance, this delayed and weak report shows how Trafford Labour have bottled it when it comes to supporting local residents on an issue which is clearly important to them and yet again they have kicked the ball into the long grass.”
