Stockport Liberal Democrats to Andy Burnham: Back Brownfield-First

Stockport Liberal Democrats have today published a joint letter to the Prime Minister warning that government planning reforms are putting increasing pressure on the borough’s Green Belt, which risks undermining a genuine brownfield-first approach to development. The letter is backed by Cabinet Member Cllr Jake Austin, Leader of the Council Cllr Mark Roberts, Tom Morrison MP and Lisa Smart MP. The letter to Andy Burnham has been published in the wake of Stockport’s emerging Local Plan, which is set to go to consultation in late September. 

The letter raises concerns that changes to housing targets have effectively doubled Stockport’s housing requirement to almost 31,000 homes, while the introduction of the so-called “grey belt” policy is creating a pathway for development on land that residents clearly recognise and value as Green Belt.

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said:

“Stockport Liberal Democrats have always believed that we can deliver the homes people need without sacrificing the Green Belt that local communities value so highly. Our regeneration success in Stockport Town Centre shows that a brownfield-first approach works, and we’re calling on the Government to give councils like ours the flexibility to continue protecting green spaces while delivering sustainable growth.”

Cllr Jake Austin, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment, said:

“During the Makerfield by-election, Andy Burnham made the case for a planning system that strikes the right balance between delivering homes and protecting the Green Belt, with a clear commitment to prioritising brownfield regeneration first. That is exactly the approach we have been pursuing in Stockport for years. We’re asking the Prime Minister to back that principle in practice and give places like Stockport the flexibility to deliver sustainable growth without putting unnecessary pressure on valued Green Belt land.”

The letter points to the Draft Local Plan released by Stockport Council in July 2024, which focussed on delivering over 15,000 across brownfield sites, contrasting with the Labour government’s changes in planning, which are pushing councils across the country to release green belt land. 

Stockport Liberal Democrats are urging ministers to provide greater flexibility for areas such as Stockport so that housing delivery, regeneration and Green Belt protection can be properly balanced for future generations.

JA Letter to PMDownload

Stockport Lib Dems welcome Road Repair Rebate

Stockport Lib Dems welcome “Road Repair Rebate”

Stockport Liberal Democrats have secured a win to the tune of £6.82 million for the borough, as Stockport Council will receive a share of a £60 million Pothole Fund announced today by Mayor Bev Craig, intended to fund road and pavement repairs across the city-region. The news comes after extensive lobbying by the Liberal Democrat run administration, for the combined authority to return more money back into its constituent councils.

The fund will be distributed across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs according to an agreed formula based on need. It is expected to cover more than a million square metres of road surface, equivalent to around 125km of highway.

Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Roberts, said

“We welcome this ‘Road Repair Rebate’ that has been secured from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority following considerable lobbying by the Liberal Democrat administration. Residents rightly expect proper road conditions, and bringing money back into communities is a good step to begin this process.

“The chronic underfunding of councils by successive (red and blue) central governments has led to the decline of our nation’s roads and it is simply unsustainable. We welcome all efforts to return money back to the local councils in GM while we continue to pressure the Labour government to fund us fairly.”

Liberal Democrats Double Blue Bin Collections Across Stockport

Stockport Liberal Democrats have announced that paper and card recycling collections will return to a fortnightly schedule, doubling the current frequency of blue bin collections for households across the borough.

The Liberal Democrat-led Council is making the change in response to feedback from residents, with the new two-weekly collection service expected to be in place before Christmas.

The Council introduced a stricter approach to applying existing health and safety requirements, which meant crews were no longer able to collect bins where the lid remained open.

Further details about the more frequent collections will be announced in the coming weeks, and the updated collection schedule will be included in the new paper bin calendars being delivered to households in September.

Councillor Jake Austin, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment, said:

“The feedback we’ve received from residents has been loud and clear. People want their paper and card recycling collected more often, and they want a service that makes it easier to recycle.”

“We are delighted to announce that we’ve listened to those concerns and will be doubling the frequency of blue bin collections, with paper and card recycling collected every two weeks.”

“Our data shows that collecting blue bins every fortnight can have the most immediate impact on the service for residents across Stockport. It will take a short time to rearrange rounds and so we will introduce this new, more frequent collection service from the start of December, before Christmas sees households generate more paper and card recycling than at any other time of the year.”

“We’ll be sharing more details in the coming weeks, and residents will see the updated arrangements reflected in the new paper bin calendar that is scheduled to arrive in autumn.”

The move is part of the Liberal Democrat administration’s commitment to delivering reliable local services, boosting recycling and responding directly to residents’ concerns.

Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Roberts said,

“We’re very proud of the work our bin collection crews do, whilst they have to walk many miles in steel toe-capped boots, working in the summer heat or the rain, sleet and snow. They have played an integral part in Stockport having one of the best recycling rates in the country, and being the very best in the North West.”

“When the manufacturer changes to the health and safety instructions were applied, we heard loud and clear how our residents felt. It is critical people know the Liberal Democrats will listen to the feedback given and strive to make a positive difference wherever we can.”

Further information, including implementation dates and updated collection schedules, will be published on the Stockport Council website over the coming weeks.

Stockport Council writes to the new PM Andy Burnham

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, has today written to the new Prime Minister outlining some key priorities “that Stockport and the Government could champion together” to bring concrete improvements to the borough. The letter was sent to Andy Burnham and builds on a number of years of constructive engagement with the Stockport Liberal Democrats at the Town Hall in his previous role as Mayor of Greater Manchester.

The letter asks for three key issues to be at the forefront of decision making, a fair funding settlement for Stockport, the delivery of Metrolink into our borough, and urgent, substantial funding provided to Stepping Hill Hospital.

Cllr Roberts said

“It is clearly a significant moment, and we have had no hesitancy in sending a letter to Downing Street in the first week of this new government. The Prime Minister was a strong advocate for our bold ambition for Stockport in his last job; I sincerely hope that this continues into his new one, but he has to start delivering quickly.”

“The Stockport Liberal Democrats have said we will work with anyone who has the best interests of Stockport and its residents at heart. We hope the Prime Minister will see this letter for what it is, an invitation to work collaboratively on building on our excellent record of delivery, giving us the resources we need to deliver good growth and rectifying the mistakes of both the previous Tory and Labour Governments.”

Letter to Prime Minister 21 July 26Download

Former Deputy Leader of Stockport Labour, Cllr Joe Barratt, has today joined the Liberal Democrat group on Stockport Council.

Cllr Barratt left the Labour party last September, when he criticised Keir Starmer for “sleepwalking into a Reform government” and has now joined the Lib Dem team running Stockport Council.

In the latest elections, Cllr Barratt campaigned for the Liberal Democrat Candidate, Cllr Niki Meerman in his ward in the local election, which saw the Labour party crash to just 5% of the vote down from 47% in 2024.

He has formally joined the Liberal Democrats as the best antidote to “divisive and simplistic politics”, whilst also criticising the failure of the Labour party and the Conservative governments to protect residents from rising costs. The two parties received around just 10% of the vote in Stockport, and won 2 and 0 seats respectively in May. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats stormed to taking over all control of the council, making history as the first group to do that in 15 years.

Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Roberts, said

“Joe is a fantastic community politician, I’ve worked with him closely as a fellow Werneth councillor for some time and he sees the Lib Dems as the best antidote to the political extremes that are taking over so much of our culture.”

“There are stark challenges that residents and the council alike feel. There is a political landscape where people are bombarded with false narratives and simplistic solutions to complicated problems, with a polarised politics of protest and populism the easy option that many choose to peddle. With Labour and the Conservatives languishing at 10% of the vote in Stockport, it’s clear that the old 2 party system is being rejected by the voters and the Lib Dems are the solution to the problem that the people across Stockport back.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the progress Stockport has made so far, and it’s a testament to the work we’re doing of shunning populist politics and taking difficult decisions that are for the best for Stockport.”

Cllr Joe Barratt said

“I have increasingly come to feel that my values and beliefs are better reflected in the Liberal Democrats than anywhere else, and that the most effective way to serve the people of Bredbury and Woodley is as part of a team that shares them.”

“I personally champion the core values of fairness, equality and opportunity that define the party. What has struck me most, is the way that Liberal Democrats have consistently delivered for residents locally in Stockport. They have been protecting important frontline services in the face of an incredibly challenging local government funding landscape and ensuring that the council continues to be a beacon of inclusion, tolerance and respect for all.”

“It was clear on the doorsteps in the last election that people are tired of the Labour & Conservative parties taking them for granted, having failed to protect people from rising costs and failing public services. It’s the Liberal Democrats’ that provide the alternative to divisive politics that only make the problems worse.”

Cllrs Mark Roberts, Niki Meerman and Joe Barratt

Victory for Bramall Hall as Lib Dem Council Secures £1 Million Grant

Stockport Council has secured £1 million from the Museums Estate and Development Fund (MEND) to carry out works to Bramall Hall. The scheduled work includes electrical and fire safety measures, which will protect the future of the Grade 1 listed building which has national architectural significance.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities, Cllr Dan Oliver, said

“We are delighted Lib Dem run Stockport council has secured this specific grant funding for Bramall Hall.”
“Bramall Hall is a historical asset admired by people across the North West and this £1 million will help to protect the future of such a significant historical landmark. I am so proud that we are lucky enough to be the custodians of this brilliant site. Work will start soon, led by our excellent estates team.”

“Whilst the bid was successful and the government have pledged to provide £1 million to the project, there are still concerns that the funding is not enough to compensate for a decade of deliberate underfunding from consecutive Conservative governments.”

“Whilst it is fantastic to get this funding to allow some of the preservation work to be done, we are continuing to push for a further £1.5 million needed to safeguard its future. It is disappointing that, despite the hard work of local Lib Dem councillors and council staff, the Labour government have short changed the area yet again after years of cuts under the Conservatives and refused to fully fund the work needed to protect this national treasure properly.”
“In the meantime, we will continue to lobby the Labour government to give Stockport it’s fair share of funding, something that all our residents deserve right across the borough.”

Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle, Tom Morrison, and Bramhall North Councillor, Cllr Mark Jones joined Cllr Oliver in welcoming the news.


Tom Morrison MP:
“Bramall Hall is a treasure for Bramhall and for the whole of the North West, and I am delighted that Lib Dem-run Stockport Council has secured this £1 million to protect it. But this should not be a partial victory. The Labour government has once again short changed Stockport, refusing to fully fund the £2.5 million needed to safeguard this nationally significant site. I will continue to push ministers to give Stockport its fair share, and to finish the job properly.”

Cllr Mark Jones:
“This is brilliant news for Bramhall. Bramall Hall sits at the heart of our community and it is fantastic to see £1 million secured to protect its future. I am proud of what our Lib Dem council has achieved here, and I look forward to seeing the works begin. We will keep making the case for the remaining £1.5 million needed to give this historic building the security it deserves.”