Conservatives in Stockport have officially launched their campaign, in advance of the next local election on 2 May. 

Their five priorities are: protecting green spaces; a rail link from Stockport to Marple and Romiley; reinstating weekly green bin collections; increased free car parking; and freezing council tax. 

A number of these issues relate to Stockport Council's recent budget, in which the council had to bridge a funding gap of £11.6m - this included spending changes in some of the aforementioned areas. 

Read more about the council's 2024/25 budget HERE.  

Paul Athans, the prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove said: "When I speak to local people, they see that any investment in our borough is going into the centre of Stockport. Hazel Grove constituency is being left behind by the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

"We need Conservatives on Stockport Council to provide a competent, pragmatic, and fiscally responsible voice. Voters here can't afford another year of mismanagement from this Council."

21 out of 63 council seats in Stockport borough will be contested at the upcoming local elections on 2 May (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Oliver Johnstone, council candidate for Norbury and Woodsmoor, similarly aimed to "send a message to the Liberal Democrat Council that we're sick of being taken for granted by the Liberal Democrats and Labour."

It comes not long after other parties in Stockport borough set out their own priorities. 

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this month, Lib Dem councillor Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, said: "We're keen to bring more jobs and new homes, there is a need for more new homes as we've always accepted, but for us it's making sure they go to the right places.

"That doesn't mean only the town centre. It's a complete misunderstanding to say all we want to do is cram them in and build it high in the town centre - that's never been the plan at all."

Meanwhile, Cllr David Meller – leader of Stockport Labour Group and the opposition on Stockport council – said housing is the "spine of everything we are doing as a group."

He called for a discussion about looking at "pockets in the green belt that have already been developed" that could be used for new housing". 

The full council chamber at Stockport Town Hall (Image - Alasdair Perry)

There are 63 councillors at Stockport Council - three from each of the 21 wards. 

At the next local election on 2 May, 21 councillors are up for election - one from each ward. Find the full list HERE.

At current, the Liberal Democrats are the largest group on Stockport Council, with 29 out of 63 councillors. 

The second largest is the Labour Group, with 24 councillors. 

Stockport also has a number of smaller opposition groups such as the Edgelely Community Association, Stockport Green Party, and the Heald Green Ratepayers, all of which have three councillors each. 

There are no Conservative councillors in Stockport Town Hall at current, but this could change at the next local election.

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