“We need someone who actually cares” – What does Salford expect from politicians next?

“I want less promises and more actions in Salford,” said Paul, who wants the next set of politicians to make a difference.

The people of Salford are facing sky-high bills, a housing crisis and a rise in homelessness within the city. Many residents want these issues to be dealt with immediately by whoever is elected on July 4, but some are reluctant to see any change.

“It’ll take years to put it right if it ever will be put right,” said a shopkeeper from Salford Shopping Centre who’s worked in Pendleton for over 50 years.

The shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous to avoid any trouble, said he is “fed up” of going on about what is “much needed” in the city.

One thing he knows is “much needed” for certain, is more youth clubs in Salford. The independent trader said he’s seen an increase in young kids hanging around the centre over the last couple of years.

“We need more opportunities for youngsters to do something,” he said.

“Get them off the streets (by) delivering sports and activities for youngsters that has been lacking over the years.

“That’s why they roam the streets, wearing balaclavas on their e-bikes. And where are the police? There aren’t any. We need more police definitely.”

Apart from more police and more youth centres, like many other Salfordians the shopkeeper would like to see an end to homelessness in Salford, which he sees “every day”.

The Mayor Paul Dennett declared a “rapidly escalating” homeless crisis in Salford earlier this year and although there are plans to build more council homes in the city, rising numbers of people are presenting themselves to the town hall with nowhere to live.

“It’s tough at the moment, we see it everyday around the precinct certainly but it’s because we don’t have the services to address these issues,” said the shopkeeper. 

He described the social housing system as “a mess” in Salford and was frankly infuriated at the other development projects in the city.

“The Quays, what’s all that about?” he said. “You can build all that and develop the Quays in 10 years and yet there’s not enough social housing for people.

“Something’s not right somewhere. They talk about affordable housing, what’s affordable housing? It’s never affordable, never.

“It’s sickening it really is and it’s frustrating and the politicians have allowed it to happen.”

Andrea Ormandy, 54, from Pendleton said “there’s no community” in Salford anymore.

Andrea said: “It’s all been divided, people are being moved out of the area.

“I’ve nothing against students as I work at the university but the accommodation that is here is being filled up with students. So it makes it so hard for anybody to get a house or a flat or any accommodation because they’re buying HMOs.”

Salford City Council has recently raised concerns over the increasing concentrations of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in its neighbourhoods, as they add extra “pressure to local services”.

HMOs, which often consist of shared houses or flats, lived in by more than one household with shared facilities, have proliferated in Salford in recent years.

Council data indicates that from 2017 to 2023, the city saw 1,254 new HMOs established.

To address these issues, the council’s new HMO planning document states that permission to expand or set up new HMOs “will not normally be granted” if the number of HMOs exceeds 10 per cent of all residential properties within a 100-metre radius of the planning application.

For the houses that are available for people like Andrea, the prices are another battle on their own.

“With the likes of me, I work, but I can’t afford to rent private because it is just way out of my league. If I didn’t have a council property, what would I do?” Andrea said.

“I’ve lived in Salford all my life and I’ve seen it change so much. I work mainly on MediaCity now, that’s completely changed. They did change it for the good in the fact that it was a dump, but everything they built there is not for your typical Salford person. 

“I think they need to do more job shops and more of something to get people back into work because it’s too easy for them not to work.

“We need a lot more places for Salford people.”

Notably, a lot of Salford residents at the precinct said they didn’t know who to vote for in the next big general election.

Jeff Harden, from Pendleton, 60, said: “To be honest I’m not voting for anyone because there is no decent option for me. If there was a good option I’d vote for them but I’d feel sorry for them because of the mess they’re walking into. It’s going to take many, many years to get help and it won’t be in my lifetime.”

Paul Fairclough, 54, from Swinton, is also reluctant to vote based on a number of “failed promises” throughout the years.

“When they say they’re going to sort roads out, actually do it. The pot holes in Salford are a disgrace.

“I want the next Salford MP to really deliver on their promises. I want more of the truth with what they’re pledging to do.

“The money in my pocket now is less than it was 10 years ago. Everything’s gone up, your food shop, petrol and I’m sick of it. 

“I want less promises and more actions in Salford.”