At both the start and end of last week, I spent time with two sporting heroes. On Monday morning I met Dame Sarah Storey, and on Friday afternoon I sat alongside Lord Seb Coe. I was with them for very different reasons, but both visits were linked to Trafford. With sport being such a big theme during the week, it felt especially fitting.
On Monday morning I cycled to St Matthew’s CE Primary School in Stretford to join Greater Manchester Active Travel Commissioner Sarah Storey, along with my colleagues Steve and Barry, for a school street celebration. The school street scheme has been running since the start of the year, and it was great to see the road outside the school turned into a play space for children. Later, I joined Sarah at an assembly where we talked about travelling to school safely. Unsurprisingly, the children were also keen to hear about her success in winning so many medals. Later in the week Sarah announced her retirement from competition. It is a major decision, but her achievements will inspire people for many years to come.
During the week at Trafford Town Hall, I met more young people completing work experience with the council and enjoyed answering questions about my role. I also held several meetings with executive colleagues and members of the Labour Group. In addition, I met with the Chief Executive, planning and licensing officers, and took part in another Let’s Talk session with council staff at Sale Town Hall.
The biggest event of the week took place on Thursday with the launch of the Wharfside Strategic Masterplan. The plan covers the area around Manchester United Football Club, including the site where a new stadium has been proposed. Around 200 people attended the event, including representatives from many organisations and pupils from local schools. The new stadium is an important part of the vision, alongside new homes, leisure facilities, better transport links, greener public spaces and improvements that celebrate the area’s heritage. After the launch I spoke to the BBC, Sky, ITN and the Manchester Evening News. I stressed that local communities must benefit from this major project and that affordable and social housing should play an important role. Trafford is fortunate to have such an exciting opportunity and I look forward to seeing how it develops in the years ahead.
Later that day I went to Stretford Library, where I first caught up on emails before holding my advice surgery for residents of Stretford and Humphrey Park.
At the end of the week I returned to the Town Hall to chair a virtual meeting of the Greater Manchester Five Year Environment Plan Partnership. We discussed a wide range of topics, including climate adaptation, water management, hydrogen and home retrofit projects. Afterwards I joined Seb Coe and other members of the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation. Much of the discussion focused on the successful launch of the masterplan the previous day.
Meanwhile, the Greater Manchester mayoral election campaign continues, and I have been out on doorsteps across Trafford supporting Bev Craig.