A 300-year-old footpath has been saved from being re-routed through a proposed new 16-storey hotel lobby after public campaigns swayed Councillors.
Objections from 120 people, headed by university lecturer, Morag Rose, led councillors to revise the plans for the river to be accessed via the Ralli Quays hotel lobby.
The riverside footpath has been under threat since developers, Legal and General, proposed a 16-storey hotel and 12-storey office building over the site of the path.
A report released yesterday by Salford’s Planning and Transport Regulatory Panel said: “The changes presented to panel on 6th October related to the retention of public access down the steps to the riverside and as a result the alternative route that was previously proposed as mitigation is no longer required.
“Following further review and discussions the applicants are now proposing to retain public access down the steps to the riverside.”
Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett released a statement in October campaigning to the retention of the riverside footpath. The statement read: “My default position has and always will be, to protect public Rights of Way wherever possible.
“Following the planning committee’s decision and briefings with officers I have requested that plans be urgently reviewed to ensure that if there are any development alternatives to stopping the route, they are being fully explored.”
Please find below an update from myself with regards to the public right of way issue at Ralli Quays. We should always endeavour to protect our public rights of way wherever possible, which is why I’ve asked @SalfordCouncil officers to look anew at development proposals.👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/WjVN3IkyVn
— SalfordMayor (@salford_mayor) August 22, 2022
Back in 2021, lead campaigner and university lecturer said: “In some ways, it’s quite a small space, it might not feel particularly important. Part of it at the moment is overgrown, but what it is, is it’s really important to allow people to access the River Irwell.
“Fundamentally, I don’t think we should be losing public access to private gain. And that’s been a bigger issue across Salford and Manchester for a while.”
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