Ramblers don’t just head for the hills. We recognise the benefits of local walking in the city too. That’s why the Manchester and Salford Ramblers group began work, over eight years ago, on a new Salford Trail which would offer our citizens the opportunity to benefit from the open spaces and quiet walking routes which are on their doorstep.
The Ramblers is a statutory consultee for rights of way proposals. This means that Manchester and Salford Ramblers spend a lot of time talking to Salford City Council and to developers as planning applications are submitted and new cycling and walking routes are proposed. Consequently, we have established good working relationships with key stakeholders.
After three years of planning, the Salford Trail was opened by Stuart Maconie, president of the Ramblers, at Salford Quays on 30th May 2017. The first of 10 interconnected sections follows the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Irwell from the Quays to Peel Park. It was the most difficult section to establish as it weaves through the very centre of the city.
Our initial aim to offer a riverside route on this section of the Trail had already been challenged by earlier developments (eg the Ordsall Chord, Slate Wharf and Riverside House). Then, five years ago, a new proposal emerged to demolish government buildings at Ralli Quays in central Salford. The plan to replace them with a hotel and office complex was seen as both a further threat but also as an opportunity. The Trail goes through the heart of this redevelopment proposal.
In 2018 we learnt that the developers proposed to close a short section of a riverside path in front of their site. We had initially considered using this path as part of the Salford Trail but quickly abandoned the idea. Our research showed:
• this was not (and never knowingly had been) a public right of way
• it was a very narrow path due to the recent Riverside House development just downstream of the Ralli Buildings near Irwell Street bridge
• it was now a dead end, having been closed off further downstream by the developments at Slate Wharf
• it was frequently flooded by the notoriously fickle river.
We had numerous discussions within the Ramblers, with Councillors and Lead Officers at the Council, and with the developers. Whilst not enthusiastic about this project we concluded that we would not object to the closure of the low-level path.
We did, however, object to the route of the proposed replacement upper level path. This was, to some extent, to be along the adjacent Stanley Street. But this part of the street was to become private. We emphasised that this diversion into Stanley Street must become a public right of way otherwise we would object to the whole scheme. Our current understanding (from correspondence on 1st Feb 2022) is that the developers are content to support this should the Council agree. The council have advised us that this designation will be granted.
In parallel to our work, the Our Irwell campaign is seeking to establish a route along the Irwell. We share the campaign’s objective of wanting to retain waterside paths wherever possible. Our reluctance to object to the closure of the lower-level path was based on a detailed examination of the evidence available at the time of the initial planning application.
In a very important new development, on 22nd August 2022 Paul Dennett, the Salford City Mayor, published an open letter outlining the issue, confirming his support for public rights of way and indicating that his officers will be re-examining the development proposal to investigate “alternatives to stopping up the route”.
The Ramblers welcome the Mayor’s intervention and hope that the lower path at Ralli Quays can be retained alongside the proposed improvements on Stanley Street. Like Mr Dennett and the wider community of Salford, we want to open up as much of the riverside as is possible to improve the quality of walking along the Salford Trail and through the city as a whole. We look forward to working with him, the City Council and the Our Irwell campaign to find the best solution for walkers.