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Concerns parts of Stockport are ‘turning on each other’

Local News by Ed Barnes - Local Democracy Reporter 1 hour ago  
With major developments happening across Stockport borough, some areas say they feel left out (Image - Nub News)
With major developments happening across Stockport borough, some areas say they feel left out (Image - Nub News)
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There are fears parts of Stockport are 'turning on each other' amid ongoing rows over who gets millions and who does not.

With major developments happening across the borough, some feel left out.

During a communities and transport committee meeting on June 8, councillor David White criticised inequalities in Stockport pointing to a new £20m hub at Marple. This new facility is due to be finished in the autumn and will be 'a state-of-the-art community facility that brings leisure, health and library facilities together under one roof'.

It was funded through the government's Levelling Up programme as well as Sport England. It will feature a new modern library, five-lane swimming pool, 60-station gym, café, and a health clinic.

Cllr White said: "How do I explain to the people of Reddish that when we have Levelling Up funding – and I still can't fathom how Marple gets levelling up funding – how that sits with a library that's falling down and buildings with trees growing out the side in Reddish?"

In response, Cllr Dan Oliver, cabinet member for communities, said: "I think the key thing at the heart of this isn't about areas turning on each other in Stockport.

"It was a very specific set of circumstances that led to the Marple community hub securing the money. It was down to the former MP for the area putting that area forward.

"Equally the MP covering Reddish at the time had the opportunity to put forward Reddish for that same pot of money to government and didn't do so. They chose to pick an area of Tameside instead for that opportunity."

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He said it was funds the council was responsible for delivering, adding: "It's going to be a great building and community hub in Marple. We can't take that away from them but absolutely recognise not every area is seeing that same level of investment and we have to manage that."

Labour councillor Rachel Wise also raised issues in Reddish including the loss of a community centre due to damp and wanted to see the council invest more in buildings such as the library there. She recently said parts of Stockport were not getting their fair share.

Cllr Oliver said Reddish library did need investment, adding: "There are innovative responses to this that will feel like it will bring some pain to a community and that will be challenging but equally what is the end goal with it?

"What is that positive that we can still deliver a good service through that?"

Cllr White also pushed for an update on the extension of the Didsbury tramline into Stockport after a business case for the line has been delayed to September.

Cllr Grace Baynham, cabinet member for transport, said the priority was getting the line to Stockport which 'will open up a raft of opportunities' across the borough.

Following questions about Bramhall station by Cllr Taya Clarke which has no Sunday services, Cllr Baynham said she had met with Northern Rail multiple times and they have 'worked with central Government to put an offer on the table'. She said the issue was being held up by a dispute involve train conductors.

     

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