Residents across Trafford are asking a simple question: why can’t Labour get the basics right?
Two years ago, Trafford Conservatives proposed a practical, cost-effective solution to tackle the borough’s deteriorating roads – invest in a Pothole Pro machine. For around £140,000, this innovative machine could have permanently repaired potholes across Trafford at a fraction of the current cost. Labour said no.
That decision – coupled with funding cuts to vital schemes like the resurfacing of Oldfield Road – has left residents with roads that are not only riddled with potholes, but frequently repaired to such poor standards that they fail again within weeks.
Trafford’s roads are now among the worst in Greater Manchester. The repair rate is appalling. The quality of work is inconsistent. And residents are footing the bill – through car damage, council tax, and disruption.
A Smart Solution Rejected by Labour
In 2023, Trafford Conservatives put forward a proposal to invest in the JCB Pothole Pro, a piece of British-made machinery designed to cut, clean, and reinstate a pothole in around eight minutes – permanently. Several councils across the country have already adopted the machine with excellent results, reducing costs and complaints.
For a one-off investment of just £140,000 – less than the cost of a single temporary contract – Trafford could have started tackling its growing maintenance backlog. The technology would have made a real difference.
But Labour rejected the proposal.
Residents Paying the Price
Two years later, the situation is worse than ever. Across the borough, from Timperley to Stretford, Altrincham to Sale, and Urmston to Partington, roads are cracking, crumbling, and caving in.
- On Oldfield Road, a planned resurfacing project had its funding pulled without explanation.
- In Broadheath, potholes that were “fixed” last month have already reappeared.
- In Bowdon and Hale, some roads are so degraded that vehicles swerve just to avoid damage – endangering pedestrians.
- Across Trafford, reports of shoddy, short-lived repairs are mounting – with residents saying crews "patch over puddles" instead of fixing the problem.
This isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a safety issue, a financial burden, and a clear sign of a council that is out of its depth.
Labour's Priorities Are All Wrong
While Labour fail to repair roads properly, they’ve found time and money to expand the council’s communications team, focus on vanity projects, and push out glossy PR that tries to hide the cracks – literally and figuratively.
Residents don’t want spin. They want smooth, safe roads.
Labour's refusal to back the Pothole Pro wasn’t just a missed opportunity – it was a deliberate political choice. A choice to ignore common sense. A choice to put short-term patch jobs over long-term savings. A choice to put Trafford residents second.
We Would Get It Right
Trafford Conservatives know that road maintenance isn’t a luxury – it’s a core council duty. That’s why we will:
- Invest in the Pothole Pro or equivalent modern technology to speed up repairs and improve quality.
- Bring in independent inspection of all road repair work – to ensure it meets proper standards.
- Publish a borough-wide road maintenance schedule, so residents know when and where work is happening.
- Prioritise value for money, using smarter procurement and delivery.
- Focus on permanent repairs, not wasteful patches.
We will also revisit cancelled schemes like Oldfield Road, and listen to residents about which roads need urgent attention.
Time to Change Course
The truth is: this mess was avoidable.
Had Labour supported the Pothole Pro two years ago, our roads would already be in a dramatically better state. Residents wouldn’t be dealing with broken suspensions, burst tyres, and dangerous conditions.
Instead, Trafford is stuck in a cycle of delay, denial, and decay.
Labour can’t get it right. But we would.
Trafford deserves leadership that takes infrastructure seriously. That plans ahead, spends wisely, and fixes problems properly.
We're ready to deliver that.
Let’s fix our roads – and fix this council.