Star date: 3rd July 2015

BOOTHSTOWN KIDS SAFE AFTER PROTESTS

After months of protest that saw kids block the streets and a nervy police presence, Countryside Properties has caved in to community demands and kept its delivery vehicles off the roads of the Moorings Estate in Boothstown during school times.

"It is unfortunate that it has taken a huge effort by residents to get Countryside to recognise their responsibilities" says Bob Clarke from the Moorings Estate Residents Society.

Full details here...

Back in April, residents on the Moorings Estate in Boothstown decided they'd had had enough of their kids being put in danger by huge HGVs rumbling down quiet streets and mounting pavements near their homes, as deliveries of equipment were made to Countryside Properties' building site on their doorsteps. They took direct action.

The access road into the site was blocked off for a few mornings by mums, dads and even local councillors as kids paraded with placards reading `Let us play, take your lorries away'...

It was a mad situation where Salford Council couldn't enforce its own planning conditions which were constantly being broken by Countryside and its contractors. There was dirt, dust and noise from the vehicles, while parents said their kids were in danger from the HGVs while walking to school and playing out (for further details see previous Salford Star article – click here).

However, the action from the community has finally forced Countryside to comply and the developer has agreed to protect the school runs, use a new haulage road to bring in vehicles and to keep its lorries away from the estate on weekends.

In a letter to the Moorings Estate Residents Society, John Grealis of Countryside Properties wrote "I believe that the considerable financial commitment made to deliver the haul road together with the further commitments detailed...will significantly mitigate the impact of the physical construction work on the existing residents..."

The victory has been hailed by residents but the war with developers is not over yet...

"The residents welcome the recent actions by Countryside to alleviate the impact of their development on residents of the Mooring Estate" says Bob Clarke of the Residents Society "It's not perfect but it is a start. It is unfortunate that it has taken a huge effort by residents to get Countryside to recognise their responsibilities. That said this is inappropriate development and permission should have never been granted by the Council – the views of residents expressed at the Planning Panel have been proven right. 

"We understand that there is a proposal for further development on an adjacent site that will shortly be submitted to the Council" he adds "Residents will continue fighting against this application, supported by RAID, with as much determination and rigour as they have with Countryside. We have, of course, gathered lots of evidence over the past four months which will support our view that any development in this area is inappropriate and is not sustainable."

The first battle has been won by the residents with direct action. Now they await the next skirmish with developers...