A planning application has been submitted to Salford City Council, seeking permission to infill the smaller of the reservoirs located upon Liverpool Street in Weaste, and some local residents are not happy.
The application states that it is for the erection of a new commercial unit (B1c) with vehicular parking and alterations to existing elevations.
Application Number: PA/2024/0803
The applicant is Mr H Jones for the company known as Full Circle Events & Exhibitions Limited.
Residents in homes directly facing the reservoir were notified via letters a week ago, and the area has since been meshed off with warnings that it is now a construction site despite permission not yet having being granted.
A previous attempt to drain and infill the reservoir was halted by local councillors in 2017 with the company accused of ecocide after trees were chopped down and fish were seen struggling in the water as foliage was dumped upon them, Urban Vision confirmed at the time that no application had been made or granted for the work to be undertaken.
Despite scorching hot temperatures during that month, the reservoir refilled within less than a week as its primary function has always been to absorb local groundwater as intended when constructed. The reservoirs provided drainage to the boggy area which was at the time known as Waste, later to become Weaste. The area suffers from a notoriously thick clay layer under the topsoil which prevents groundwater from readily absorbing into the earth below.
By draining the land it allowed for the construction of the local mill as well as a readily available supply of water.
The reservoir also holds a very important historic value as it is widely believed to have serviced Friedrich Engels’ bleaching mill nearby.
One local resident who wished not be named, said:
“My family has lived here for generations and to think that this local little wildlife haven could be built upon is truly shocking.
“The pond is regularly used by wildfowl, it’s stocked with fish and is a major feeding ground for the many bats which can be seen overhead in the evening as they travel down from roosts up at the park (Buile Hill) in search of food.
“If they (The council planners) allow this then it will be a huge blow to their populations and destroy a vital wildlife habitat.
“The proposed building is horrific and would not fit well with the residential area and would take a lot away from the view along this section of Liverpool Street.”
The reservoir known locally as ‘Little Winterbottom’s’ is also a well known food source for the local bat population which travels from Buile Hill Park to feed upon an abundance of insects.
Local residents intend to launch an appeal and campaign to prevent what is a local landmark from being built upon.
