A Salford councillor is preparing to take his own council to court over the approval of hundreds of new homes on former greenbelt land. Peel Land was granted permission in July to build 282 'high-quality' homes on land around the RHS Bridgewater in Boothstown, a decision that has angered local residents who claim the surrounding roads are already 'at breaking point' with congestion.
Fundraiser launched for legal challenge
Conservative councillor Bob Clarke has launched a fundraiser on behalf of the community to cover the legal costs of a judicial review. More than £14,000 has been raised in under a week, almost a third of the predicted total cost of around £50,000.
Coun Clarke told the LDRS: "I'm not against housebuilding. But this is about the infrastructure of the entire area, which isn't ready for that amount of people. It's not just the roads, it's the schools, doctors, dentists."
He added: "We're not just standing up for the residents who already live in Boothstown. We're also fighting for the residents who would move to the new development without realising they're moving into a nightmare."
Traffic concerns and survey criticism
Junction 13 and Leigh Road are notorious for bumper-to-bumper jams during rush hour, with locals claiming it can take upwards of an hour to make a 20-minute journey. Coun Clarke believes there are grounds for a review because the 'traffic impact was not considered properly and the data used to make the assessment is not reflective of the current situation'.
Local resident and campaigner Amanda Booth noted the traffic survey was carried out shortly after lockdown, when she believes 'huge numbers of people were still working from home'. She said on social media: "Somehow, the survey managed to capture a picture of not a single car on Leigh Road. That was then used to support the conclusion that Leigh Road didn't have a serious traffic problem. Anyone who actually uses Leigh Road knows how absurd that sounds."
Reports carried out for Peel Land and council officers maintain that the impact of around 300 or more cars from the neighbourhood would only have 'minimally more impact than the projected increase in car usage without the development'.
Community opposition and next steps
Members of the community have consulted with law firm Irwin Mitchell. The process will start with an initial assessment, costing £4,200, to see if there is merit to the claim before it can proceed to the courts.
Around 2,500 local residents lodged objections to the scheme, which also prompted demonstrations. Dozens appeared at a planning meeting in July alongside ward councillors and local MP Michael Wheeler to express their opposition.
Salford Council did not provide a comment about the fundraiser or legal challenge, but noted the decision had followed due process and consultation. Anabel Baker, a representative for Peel Land, previously said the firm had 'worked closely with the council for four years to work out the details of this high-quality scheme'.
