Public meeting erupts into anger as A57 lane scrap plans dubbed “complete shambles”

Plans to scrap a lane on a notoriously busy Salford road have been dubbed “a complete omnishambles” as a public meeting erupted into anger. 

Members of the public gathered at Salford City Academy on Thursday night (November 27) to hear about proposals which would see Liverpool Road narrowed from two lanes to one approaching the M60 slip road and Peel Green roundabout following £4 million of grant funding.  

Concern has grown over the plans following the four-week trial in 2022, which saw tailbacks of traffic down the A57, commonly referred to as ‘Barton Stretch’. 

Despite the trial, Salford City Council has maintained that the narrowing of the road would only add two minutes to journeys from Barton Moss Road and Peel Green Roundabout. 

Councillor Lewis Nelson for Cadishead and Lower Irlam dubbed the plans a ‘complete omnishambles’ during the meeting.  

Residents of Peel Green have disputed their consultation on the plans, and those in Irlam and Cadishead were only consulted via social media. Despite this, resident Haley Savvides has led an online action group against the plans – ‘Stop the A57 lane reduction – Irlam and Cadishead’. 

Ms Savvides, who attended the Thursday meeting, was met with applause as she urged the council to consider the ‘lived experience’ of residents, rather than their figures. 

Nicholas Lee, 56, who attended the meeting, drives five children with special educational needs and disabilities to a school in Irlam and is wholly reliant on the A57. 

He said the plans brought forward ‘would not be right or accessible for the children’ who would be forced to spend a ‘harmful amount of time commuting’.

“When we are on the bus for an extended time, children can wet themselves, they get upset and have to assure them it is not their fault,” he said. 

“I could not drive them to school. Has anybody consulted with the parents of disabled children? No, they have not been considered in this.”  

Laura Gribbon, a mum based in Higher Irlam, said she would consider moving her family away from Salford if the unpopular road changes were made. 

She also criticised the data collected from the original trial, questioning how it had been portrayed.

“I am worried that the data they have is not being used ethically or portrayed objectively,” she said.

“We heard lots of concerned feedback in the meeting, where people said the part of the road was not a representative section and would not show how the proposal would actually impact traffic across the area, yet it’s used to support their case.

“Big statements have been made, (the spokesperson) said the simulation showed benefits and disadvantages, but I didn’t see that from the PowerPoint.

“If this were to go ahead, I would definitely consider where my family would stay because nobody wants to sit in traffic every day.”

£4 million worth of grant funding has been allocated to the Liverpool Road development. 

The plan for Liverpool Road reflects Greater Manchester’s long-term traffic strategy. By 2040, the authority hopes 50% of journeys will be made by cycling, walking, and public transport.  

Since the Thursday meeting, a new consultation link has been provided by Salford City Council, which also allows for objections to the proposal.