Liberal Democrats slam unfair Trafford Council plans to remove social housing bands

Trafford Liberal Democrats have strongly criticised council proposals to remove the lower tiers from the social housing register.

Under the current system, bands 4 and 5 are reserved for those considered to have lower ‘need’.  The Labour-controlled council’s proposal, which has been put to a consultation, would remove more than 4,000 applicants considered to fall into those categories. The council has claimed that it will allow better prioritisation of resources.    

Trafford Liberal Democrat councillor Julian Newgrosh, who represents Timperley Central, said, “This plan seems designed to conceal the problem by deliberately ignoring those in need.  It is dishonest and unfair.” 

“Trafford faces a very real housing crisis, and just changing the figures helps nobody.  I struggle to see how removing people who will need to appeal or apply again later will seriously ‘free up’ any resources in the long term.” 

In the last four years, just 26 people from these bands have been rehoused, with almost none in the last year. 

Councillor Newgrosh said, “Residents across Timperley and Trafford in these bands are all too aware of how the system has failed them, and this change will only make things worse.” 

“The Liberal Democrats will fight tooth and nail against this unfair and needless proposal.  Labour are not going to house a single family in the borough by fiddling the statistics.”   

Trafford residents are encouraged to share their views by taking part in the consultation.