Now that the small print behind this week’s transport announcements has sunk in, it’s clear that once again the people of Salford have got an extremely raw deal.
The Leigh Misguided Busway has received the green light. As I’ve commented many times before, this is a bonkers white elephant scheme which does not serve local communities in Salford but will significantly worsen congestion.
Worse, the Misguided Busway is the only significant element of the scheme based in Salford. So, we get one item that we don’t want, along with plenty of other schemes (mostly, unsurprisingly, in the City of Manchester) which we’ll barely use.
Guess what – we also get to pay through the nose for it! Our Council Tax is going up to fund improvements in Wythenshawe and Didsbury, that’s for sure.
Just as importantly, Salford’s local transport grants is being top-sliced to the tune of 40%. So, next time residents want a new cycle-way, or improvements to a road junction outwith the usual maintenance budget – forget it. Thanks to our Labour leadership all that money got blown on the White Elephant busway and on improvements in Manchester City.
Local residents are once again paying through the nose for no discernable benefit. If we were going to raise money, where were the common-sense improvements to rail services?
The money spent on the busway would have been much better deployed on improving infrastructure on the railway lines through Walkden, Eccles and Irlam, and on the much-needed changes at Salford Crescent – but no, our Labour leadership wanted the Leigh Guided Busway instead. Thanks.
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