Riverside transport and leisure plans approved

The new scheme will stretch from Salford Quays to Peel Park

Plans to transform a riverside area into a "vibrant and accessible urban park" have been backed by councillors.

Salford City Council's cabinet approved proposals to create walking and cycling routes along the River Irwell, from Salford Quays to Peel Park.

A meeting at Salford Civic Centre on Tuesday heard that the scheme would boost transport options and improve access to and from Manchester city centre.

The council said a "connectivity and movement strategy" would guide developers and planners on future work along the river.

'Daily life'

"This is an important piece of work in terms of planning, but it's the future that this strategy could unveil that's important as well," said deputy mayor Jack Youd.

"The Irwell - similar to all rivers in the UK - has not been seen as the asset that you see in other European countries in terms of as a leisure utility.

"In the UK we seem to have boxed them in and covered them up."

Youd said he hoped the plans would "take us to a place where we're able to walk up and down the Irwell, because at the minute we still can't do it to its full extent".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the plans would create four different zones along the riverside - Salford Quays, Ordsall riverside, Salford city centre, and the Meadows and Anaconda.

The local authority's planning, transport and sustainable development lead, Councillor Mike McCusker, said he wanted the riverside to be "an essential part of daily life" in the city.