People living in one Stockport area feel like it is a 'cash cow' where they 'get absolutely nothing in return', according to a local Labour MP.

However Stockport Council's leadership said MP Navendu Mishra was wasting an opportunity just to 'simply try and score political points'.

There is currently an ongoing row over whether different parts of Stockport get more money than other areas which went to a Parliament debate on July 1. Politicians in opposition to the Liberal Democrat-led Stockport Council have recently criticised what they see as neglect by the local authority of the areas they represent.

However local authority leadership argue they have been continuing to fight for fair funding and grants at every level so the whole borough can benefit. Cllr Dan Oliver previously said the claims were 'irresponsible and completely untrue' and pointed to the lack of government funding for repairs at Stepping Hill Hospital and the Lancashire Hill estate.

While Mr Mishra argued during the July 1 debate both Labour and Conservative governments had not given enough funding to the borough, the Stockport MP said the council was making political choices to overlook Reddish amid concerns around 'ageing infrastructure, a lack of high-quality public facilities and the lack of investment'. He called on Stockport Council 'to take investment in Reddish seriously'.

The Stockport MP criticised the closed Stockport Central Library, the closure of the Harrison's Weir bridge, parking charges, issues at the Lancashire Hill estate, a leaky roof at Reddish library, and the long-term closure of Reddish Baths, quoting one resident who said: "It feels like Reddish is a cash cow, the residents pay lots in and get absolutely nothing in return."

Mr Mishra said communication with the local authority was 'really poor', adding: "We are told that this Labour Government, who are trying to address the effects of the coalition years of austerity and cuts, have made a political decision on funding in respect of Stockport.

"Let me be clear; blaming this Government, who have been in power for less than two years, has become a convenient excuse for years of neglect in Reddish under the Liberal Democrats. The real question the people of Reddish and myself as the local MP ask is why do some communities always seem to be at the back of the queue?"

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He added: "The leadership at Stockport council should stop looking for someone else to blame and explain to the good people of Reddish why their neighbourhood has been left behind."

In response, Parliamentary under-secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government Nesil Caliskan said: "Areas such as Reddish have paid a heavy price. I know that political choices have to be made, but the consequences of the choices made in the austerity years are still being felt by people in Reddish."

She said the government was reviewing how it funded local government to avoid areas being pitted against each other, adding: "The truth is that elected local leaders have the expertise on how to invest in their communities.

"Having served as a local council leader myself, I feel that very strongly, and I know that, regardless of political party affiliation, the interests of local communities are best understood by local leaders. That is why the Government have committed to a series of new devolved levers and flexible funds to regenerate places, including by introducing new funds for mayoral strategic authorities."

Ms Caliskan also pointed to £141m of local growth funding awarded to Greater Manchester over four years as well as £20m over ten years that will be invested in the nearby Brinnington. She also agreed to visit Lancashire Hill and Stockport to see the issues there upfront.

Liberal Democrat Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart, who was present during the debate, said local leaders were best placed to make decisions but was delighted Stockport 'is getting rightful attention in this place'. However she criticised the government for leaving Stockport 'short-changed' and services would have to be cut because of decisions by the Labour government.

She said Stockport Council was spending three out of every £4 on social care services which meant 'the number of choices that the council can make is far too limited'.

In response, Stockport Council leader Cllr Mark Roberts said: "I'm disappointed Nav Mishra MP wasted an opportunity to champion the significant funding needs of Reddish to the Labour Government and instead chose to use his privileged platform to simply try and score political points and point fingers away from the fact Labour have been letting Reddish down for a generation. Is this the new politics of the incoming [Prime Minister Andy Burnham]?

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"It was under the previous Labour government the pool in Reddish was forced to close and the current Labour government is pushing our local services to the same point.

"I'd encourage the MP to work constructively with the council for the benefit of his residents to make the most of the time he has left in post to ensure the best service can be provided within the limited funding envelope his government gives the council to work with."

Cllr Roberts also criticised the repeated mispronunciation of Reddish as well as Brinnington during the debate by Ms Caliskan, who appeared to say Redditch which is in Worcestershire, Reading in Berkshire, and Briggington in Bedfordshire. He told the LDRS: "It says everything about the current Labour government."