A TRAFFORD councillor has slammed the council's decision to sell a piece of land for £60,000 less than its actual value.

Cllr Frank Eadie, Leader of the Conservative Group, said the sale was forced through at a meeting of Trafford's Policy and Resources Committee last month, despite strong Conservative opposition.

He said: "It is a disgrace that money can be thrown away like this. It is clear that the council has a responsibility to obtain the best possible price when it sells land which belongs to the people of Trafford."

Cllr Eadie said the land on Chester Road, Stretford was earmarked for residential use years ago but the circumstances had now changed. It was sold for housing purposes despite the fact that a firm offer of £60,000 more for part of the land was received for retail use.

He added: "I've have always believed that when you are selling land that belongs to the public, you should get the best price for it.

"The land is going to have 27 houses built on it, but there would still be 23 houses there if the retail bid was accepted. They have turned down £60,000 for the sake of four houses."

But Pauleen Lane, cabinet member for Best Value and Resources, said planning permission had not been granted for the retail bid.

She said: "We got a hard offer from a housing association. We think it is very fair and the council supports it. The retail offer goes against the Unitary Development Plan and we aren't prepared to sell our soul to get more money.

"Cllr Eadie is actually going against his own Unitary Development Plan."

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