TRAFFORD Labour Party has branded Trafford Council’s contract with service provider Amey an utter disaster — and warns residents that the worst is yet to come.

Cllr Steve Adshead, shadow executive member for environment and operations, said he and fellow councillors receive calls from constituents on a daily basis.

He said that some of the most concerning complaints have been around flooded streets through blocked gullies, lack of leaf clearance last autumn, and the weed-spraying programme this summer.

Cllr Adshead does not place the blame entirely at the door of Amey, though. He said Trafford’s services were deteriorating before control was handed over to Amey due to continuing budget cuts.

He did claim, however, that services have taken a significant nosedive since Amey’s contract was signed.

Cllr Adshead said: “I can honestly say this is the worst I have ever seen — the standard and quality of the service, and the number of complaints. This contract has been an utter disaster and it simply cannot be allowed to continue as it is.

“Whilst Amey seem unable to deliver a proper service, it is clear that the blame should fall squarely with Trafford Conservatives who drew up this contract, and they should not try to blame others. It would be disingenuous of them to do so. We predicted this would happen and they would not listen. Now everyone is paying the price with an appalling service.

“We warned the Conservatives you cannot keep cutting budgets at this level year upon year and expect to keep the same level of service. The Conservatives are misleading the public, yet the contract with Amey proposes year-on-year reductions. Residents can therefore expect things to get worse.

“I have said time and again ‘Let us have an open and honest discussion with the public about the level of service they can expect’. However, the Trafford Conservatives do not want to engage with the public about this.”

One Trafford said it receives on average 36 complaints via the dedicated customer service helpline and 30 complaints via social media per month.

It said its priority is to deliver high-quality, value-for-money services while protecting local jobs over the 15-year cycle of the contract.

It highlighted a number of milestones, including the installation of the first 6,000 LED streets lights, being awarded seven green flags and improving response time to fly-tipping.

Significant investments are also being made in new technology, including a jet patcher to speed up pothole repairs, new mowing equipment and 28 new bin lorries.

A spokesman for One Trafford said: “We are confident these investments, coupled with the approach the partnership takes to its work, will ensure service delivery improves and will help to keep Trafford a great place to live, learn, work and relax.”