Barbara objected to the planning application by Bellway Homes to build 209 homes on playing fields off Hilton Lane in Walkden and she is pleased that it has now been rejected by Salford City Council’s planning panel.

Working with local Councillors, Barbara presented objections to the planning panel on its first consideration. Following representations from Barbara, Cllr Richard Critchley, Cllr Laura Edwards and local residents, the Council Planning Panel decided to defer its decision pending a detailed traffic survey of the area.

Barbara objected to this application on the grounds that the scale and speed of recent development in and around Walkden has meant that local infrastructure cannot keep up. Local roads in the area would not have been able to accommodate additional traffic from this proposed development and it is possible that the extra traffic could have brought the traffic in the area to a complete standstill at peak times. This extra congestion would impact badly on the levels of air pollution, which already poses significant problems in the constituency. Constituents have told Barbara that it can take 30 to 45 minutes to drive 1.5 miles to the M60 junction at Worsley.

In a meeting last week, Salford Council agreed with the ward councillors, Barbara and local residents and ruled to reject the application from Bellway Homes.

Barbara says:

“I cannot support inappropriate development on green spaces and this proposal sought to build on green land that is currently home to wildlife and used by local residents for recreation.

“There were many reasons why I objected to this planning application including the detrimental effect that it would have had on the health, travelling times, education, medical support and outdoor recreation activities of local residents.

“I am pleased that Salford Council agreed with my objections on behalf of constituents and that these playing fields will continue to act as an open green space for recreation for the local community.”