THE leader of Trafford Council made a damning assessment of the Conservatives' treatment of Stretford at a meeting on Monday.

Cllr Andrew Western said the Conservatives, who led the council until 2018, made Altrincham a priority and left Stretford behind.

He made the assessment after a report on the town's multi-million-pound regeneration, which is set to include the restoration of King Street on the site of Stretford Mall, the renovation of Arndale House and the creation of a canalside area on Bridgewater Canal.

The leader was inflamed by a contribution from ex-Mayor of Trafford Cllr Dylan Butt, who said the Conservatives laid the groundwork for the regeneration.

Cllr Butt said: "It has to be said the previous administration did a lot of work at the beginning to get Stretford developed, despite the resistance of councillors.

"These are the very people who refused to get involved," he added, referring to the councillors of Stretford Ward.

One of the councillors, Cllr Tom Ross, was first to respond to Cllr Butt.

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Cllr Ross said: "I'm disappointed about what Cllr Butt has said. We care passionately and we've always cared passionately about Stretford.

"I'd ask you to retract it, Cllr Butt, because I do find it quite offensive."

But it was Cllr Western who had the strongest response, calling Cllr Butt's contribution 'an absolute abomination'.

He pointed to previous, scrapped ideas for Stretford including 20-storey student accommodation on Lacy Street and a football facility on Turn Moss – in connection with the Class of 92's UA92 and Salford City – as a sign the Conservatives neglected the town.

The leader said: "I cannot think of a single change in Stretford town centre under [the Conservatives'] tenure other than the lights outside Stretford Mall, known as the e-cigs.

"It's an absolute abomination of a contribution from you, Cllr Butt, to suggest that you have the ambition, the aspiration or the willingness to fund improvements in Stretford.

"You never brought forward significant investment in Stretford. You ran around looking for private sector solutions, being open – and I have no objection to this if that's the political desire of the administration – to make Altrincham a priority.

"I congratulate you on the regeneration of Altrincham, but my goodness did you leave Stretford behind, and by hell am I certain it would still be the case if you were still in charge of this council," he added.