Plans to create a new leisure destination and transport connection along the River Irwell in Salford have been backed by the council’s cabinet team.
A scheme to create a series of new walking and cycling routes by the riverside were approved during a meeting at Salford Civic Centre on April 8, which is set to transform an 8km section of the city into a ‘vibrant and accessible urban park’.
This will stretch from Salford Quays to Peel Park and boost transport options across the city centre, as well as helping people access Manchester city centre.
A connectivity and movement strategy for the plans has been drawn up, which will be used to bring the vision to life and guide developers and planners on future work along the riverside.
“This is an important piece of work in terms of planning, but it’s the future that this strategy could unveil that’s important as well,” said Salford’s deputy mayor Jack Youd.
“The Irwell, and it’s similar to all rivers in the UK, has not been seen as the asset that you see in other European countries in terms of as a leisure utility, rather than in the UK where we seem to have boxed them in and covered them up.
“This hopefully is going to take us to a place where we’re able to walk up and down the Irwell, because at the minute we still can’t do it to its full extent.”
The plans will create four different zones along the riverside from Salford Quays, Ordsall riverside, Salford city centre, and the Meadows and Anaconda.
Coun Mike McCusker, the town hall’s lead on planning, transport and sustainable development, said the work is backed by a vision to make the riverside an “an essential part of daily life” in Salford.
But questions were asked about ownership along Salford’s waterways, which city mayor Paul Dennett said has been a source of “frustration” in identifying responsibility for maintenance and “getting things done quickly.”
Coun Bill Hinds added that he fully supports the plans along the River Irwell, and urged his colleagues at the cabinet meeting to “start the revolution” of transforming the area for the benefit of residents.
