The co-leader of the Green Party has visited Altrincham to support calls to scale back plans to build two residential developments on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal.
Jonathan Bartley met a group of around 30 local residents to hear about the plans to develop the Bridgewater and Wharf Road area.
Manchester property firm Regency Residential has submitted a proposal to build a 99-apartment development on the site of a former existing brick warehouse, while plans have been submitted on behalf of Maya Property Development for a 48-apartment development on Bridgewater Road on the site of the former Rileys Snooker Club.
Both are due to go before Trafford Council’s planning committee on April 12th.
Geraldine Coggins, Green Party candidate for Altrincham, said: “These developers see houses as investments for landlords, rather than homes for families. This means they focus on the profits that can be made, rather than dealing with the real need for decent, affordable homes in the area. The people who live here love this area, they deserve a council that listens to their concerns and stands up to big developers.”
Objectors claim that Bridgewater and Wharf Roads are already heavily congested and that the new plans include no improvements to existing public transport or active transport arrangements.
Speaking in Altrincham to launch the local elections campaign for Green candidate Coggins and Dan Jerrome, Jonathan Bartley said:
“This scale of development is completely wrong for such a small area and Trafford Council needs to listen to the people who really care about their community.
“The Green Party doesn’t yet have a voice on the council but, having come second here in the last Council elections, it looks like Geraldine and Dan could make history here in May. The residents I met today know Dan and Geraldine and appreciate the hard work they do. They don’t want councillors who only turn up at election time, they want representatives who work hard all year round.”
