NO PLAN B - COUNTING THE REAL COST OF THE BARTON LIFTING BRIDGE CHAOS

Live Stream Available on our Facebook Page: Here

Also find another article covering this by the Salford Star: Here

At a packed public meeting held in the sports hall at Irlam & Cadishead College, Ben Dolan (Strategic Director of Salford Council) and Shoaib Mohammad (Head of Highways) attempted to convince the public that they were on top of the debacle that is currently causing misery for residents, not only in I&C but further afield into the surrounding areas.

The previous meeting had been shelved due to fire safety concerns after the Committee was taken by surprise at the number of people attending to vent their views. Despite the rather 'bad' timing of the new meeting which started at 6:00pm when many were still stuck in the very traffic this meeting was to deal with, it was still very well attended.

As we live streamed the unfolding events, a member of the public asked what the costs of operating and maintaining the new bridge would be year on year. This was revealed to be £150,000 but it was added that this would rise as the bridge aged and increasing maintenance was required. Dolan was quick to note that from the outset it was understood by the Council that this would be solely the responsibility of Peel Holdings, citing a single letter which refers to highways infrastructure and stating "Highways infrastructure is not the bridge, it's the highway"

Another local resident asked if the Council had a Plan B which they could enact should Peel dig in and refuse to open the bridge, Dolan told the audience that "If necessary the Council will take appropriate legal action", when further pressed he admitted that there was NO Plan B and reiterated that "We have instructed our lawyers to see what opportunities there are to get the bridge open as soon as we can." He then went on to say that the Council has proposed to Peel that in the meantime the bridge be opened as in their view there is nothing to prevent it from being put into service, he added that "The Council is quite happy to sit down with Peel and talk".

The question of the possibility of Peel imposing a Toll upon the bridge was raised, Dolan confirmed that a discussion had taken place with Peel but outlined that the Councils position is that this would be unacceptable, citing the £30 million in grants and loans invested into the bridge from public funding. He added that there would be legal mechanisms Peel would have to go through in order to impose a Toll and both Trafford and Salford Council's would oppose them. The millions of pounds invested mean that "It's got to be open free of use for the public".

Other residents were quick to point out that the added delays caused by the new road system were having adverse affects on local residents and businesses, not to mention emergency services. One lady brought up the topic of children getting to school late in the mornings because parents were stuck in traffic jams, she was concerned at the accruing of late marks upon their children's records. Another argued that people were at risk of loosing their jobs as they were late to work in the mornings whilst another resident was quick to add that the new road system was more suited to the needs of Peel and its Port Salford operation than the REAL residents in I&C.

Dolan and Mohammad replied by stating that the opinion of the Council was that the traffic issues were as a direct result of Peel not opening the bridge but added that once open if it did not relieve congestion then the Council would have to "Go back to the drawing board". Words which were met with disbelief as by some attendees, one of whom later told us that it clearly shows that the Council has no faith in its own traffic models. Dolan and Mohammad however were convinced that their traffic modeling was correct.

By far the most upsetting turn of events was when the owner of the much loved Moss Farm Fisheries took to the microphone to reveal that...

Quote

"As from this week we have had to put our fishery up for sale through this road

So whoever is in charge of it at Salford Council and the Highways can I say off me and my family,

'Thank you'..."

Upon failing to get any response from either Dolan or Mohammad he tore up his copy of the meeting agenda and threw it to the ground, after which he promptly walked out. This left many assembled in the room shaking their heads in disgust at the clear impact this has had upon the lives of local people, misery which seems to have no clear end in sight.

The feelings of the evening were perfectly summed up by one lady who pretty much encapsulated the public feeling and anger towards all parties involved.

Quote

 

"I really feel that you're not listening

That poor guy has lost a business

This hasn't just been going on for a few weeks, this has been going on for months

I've heard of countless people that have been warned in work because they are late on a regular basis

Is anyone bothered? Because we should be!

Peel Holdings has got the Council, putting it crudely, by the 'short and curlies'

They are basically holding the Council to ransom and we are sitting here doing nothing about it

We need a road to get in and out of Irlam, it's been going on for thirty odd years, it's ridiculous."

 

The sports hall erupted with cheers as Dolan and Mohammad looked blank faced.

In summary

We have spoken to a number of people who attended and the majority seem to have left the room with the view that the Council clearly has made a huge misstep here.

One local resident told us that it was his impression that "They are all running around like headless chickens, the Council are relying upon the mercy of Peel Holdings to take the costs of maintenance on board", something that in his view would never happen. "Peel are money men, they like making it but they don't like spending there own, Salford Council has dealt with Peel in court many times before and unlike Peel they don't have deep enough pockets".

Residents from outside of I&C have also contacted us to explain how the road problems have impacted upon their businesses.

One lady who runs a Dog Grooming service remarked that she has lost customers in affected areas as she can not physically get to them and then onwards to her next appointments in time.

She states that she had many customers in the area and the loss of income has affected her. "It's not only the people in I&C suffering, its those who service those areas". 

Words echoed by another man who told us that he is a taxi driver and getting in and out of the area has seriously started to impact upon his ability to make a living, so much that he has refused to go into the area to pick up and drop off fares as in his words "I would get stuck going in and stuck going out, its just not worth it". 

Another lady told us how she used to make regular trips into the area to visit the local farm shops, sadly due to the work being carried out she no longer can justify sitting in traffic jams and so has been sadly forced to shop elsewhere, she states that "I really feel for the people who are relying on out of area customers, the area has always been congested but in recent years its has all just become too much" she added "It is no wonder the people of I&C are at breaking point, its also totally irresponsible of both Peel and Salford Council to be leaving them in limbo with nothing looking set to change until after it has been heard in court, by which time it will be too late for many businesses".

In my view this meeting achieved nothing in the way of assuring local people that this would soon be over, talk of court action and a seemingly inability to accept that the matter of operational costs should have all been put down onto paper from the onset, it has done little to encourage those affected that the situation is under control.

As I packed up and made my exit the words of one elderly gentlemen pretty much summed up the whole night.

"A lot of hullabaloo, spin and shirking of responsibility, but as usual us lost souls in I&C are still left in the dark."

On a final note I wish to say a huge thank you to those who attended, their behavior was impeccable under the circumstances, it did get a little rowdy at one point but the people wanted to get their views across and have their say. The chair of the meeting wanted people to only speak when they had hold of the mic, sadly in reality the meeting would have gone on far far longer if that were the case as there was only one properly functioning mic for both the speakers and the public and it was being passed back and throw. On the whole it was a very well behaved meeting.

I also wish to thank the chair and committee members for making us welcome and allowing us to live stream.