A cash-strapped council has baffled locals by erecting a series of Benidorm-style sun loungers - overlooking a dual carriageway. <br /><br />Residents have been left bemused by three “random” wooden recliners which were put up next to a busy main road in the town of Stretford, Gtr Manchester.<br /><br />Passersby said they were especially surprised by the choice of the warm weather seating in the suburb known for its “absolutely horrendous” conditions. <br /><br />Others poked fun at the loungers by dubbing the area ‘Stretford Beach'.<br /><br />One nearby bar even put towels out on the deckchair-style seats in the style of the Costa Blanca resort's famed beachfront bars.<br /><br />Brewchimp posted on their Facebook page: "Here at Brewchimp we are loving the new look Kingsway and we like to get our towels down early for the best beds. <br /><br />"Ian Brown famously said ‘All that’s missing in Manchester is a beach’.<br /><br />"Well Stretford has made that one step closer to reality. Well done Trafford BC loving your work."<br /><br />But others didn't see the funny side, with one social media user slamming the council by saying: "Looks awful! Who is going to sit at the junction of a busy road overlooking Stretford mall on a sunny day? What a waste of taxpayers money!"<br /><br />Max Holloway, 29, who works as a visual merchandiser, queried why locals would want to lay down next to the Kingsway Road, which is currently under construction.<br /><br />She said: “I feel like it’s a bit random because with the weather in Manchester, it’s absolutely horrendous most of the time.<br /><br />“I can’t imagine I would think, ‘Oh it’s a nice sunny day, let’s go sunbathe by Stretford Arndale [shopping centre].’<br /><br />“At the minute, with the work still being done, traffic really does build up there, so it’s horrendous during rush hour. <br /><br />“There is Victoria Park, which is a two-minute walk from there, so I think if you wanted something more peaceful, then you would probably go there.”<br /><br />Max, from Stretford, also felt that the council should be spending their money more wisely.<br /><br />She added: “Putting more into the businesses around the area would be better than putting up a seating area which isn’t going to be used most of the time because it’s raining.”<br /><br />Mum Anne-Marie Quigley, 67, a retired hospitality worker, thought the council were trying to make the area more interesting but still questioned their decision.<br /><br />She said: “It’s a nice idea, what they are trying to do, but in the last week two bars have closed down on Chester Road which opened after Covid. <br /><br />“I know they are trying to rejuvenate Stretford, but I’ll be honest with you, they’ll need a hell of a lot more money to do that. <br /><br />“They’re trying to make it more open, if you like, and more up and coming, but two bars have closed down.”<br /><br />The decision to splash out on the sun loungers came as Trafford Council complained of having to fill gaping budget gaps totalling £288.<br /><br />And on January 31 this year, the local authority even passed a motion urging the government to give it a "fairer funding deal".<br /><br />Council leader Cllr Tom Ross said: “We call on the government to review the local government funding system which affects councils of all political backgrounds.” <br /><br />But Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager from pressure group TaxPayers’ Alliance, said council chiefs simply had their "heads in the sand".<br /><br />She said: “Local taxpayers will be furious with this outrageous waste of precious funds and will find it hard to relax on this roadside.<br /><br />“The council’s finances are in serious trouble, yet town hall bosses have their heads in the sand. <br /><br />“Trafford Council needs to cut the wasteful spending and focus on the real tide-turners - frontline services”<br /><br />Trafford Council and Manchester City Council have both been contacted for comment.
