Last year, in a review of ward sizes and electoral numbers, Salford City Council recommended to the Local Government Boundary Commission that the Ordsall ward, currently covering both the Quays, Media City and Ordsall itself, be split in two – with a new Quays ward, including the new luxury apartment blocks along the waterfront of the Manchester Ship Canal.
The new ward doesn't have 'Salford' in its title, just 'Quays'...
Following a public consultation, the Commission has now published its 'final recommendations' and has backed the Council's proposal. There were only four submissions on the proposals, two from local residents, one from Salford Council and one from the Salford Conservative group.
While the Council obviously supported the plans, it was, weirdly, the Salford Tories who raised objections to separate communities, arguing "that the shape of our draft Quays ward was illogical and that in an area of rapid growth such as Salford Quays, communities should be encouraged to grow together".
Meanwhile, one resident supported the plan, while another wanted new residents around Howard Street also included in the new Quays ward, which was rejected...
The commissions overall response was: "We visited this area on our tour of Salford and, although the proposed ward has an unorthodox shape, we remain of the opinion that the proposal to include developments between Ordsall Lane and the ship canal in a newly created Quays ward is sound.
"Many of the developments along this stretch of road are in their early stages and we consider it likely that electors moving into these properties will have a greater sense of community identity with a wider Quays ward based around MediaCityUK and Salford Quays than with the more established communities of Ordsall" the Commission added.
The Commission also backed its original proposals for a new Worsley and Westwood Park ward. Here the Tories had kind of contradicted themselves after their Quays submission in their proposals, arguing that the two communities 'had very little in common'.
With the ward boundary review completed, the recommendations will now go to Parliament for approval and will come into force for the 2020 local elections when all Salford local council seats will be up for grabs.
To see all the final maps and submissions – click here
For a full background see previous Salford Star articles...
Salford Yuppies To Get Their Own Quays Voting Ward – click here
What Do Salford Councillors Do All Day? – click here
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