Labour's war on our Green Belt continues as Carrington Relief Road approved

Every Labour councillor on Trafford's Planning Committee voted in favour of the controversial Carrington Relief Road, despite strong opposition from residents and environmental concerns over the destruction of Green Belt land and wildlife habitats.

The scheme, which will see more than 700 trees felled and put a protected bird species at risk, was approved at the Planning Committee meeting on Thursday 5 November. The road is also a key part of plans to enable the construction of around 5,000 new homes on Carrington Moss.

Liberal Democrat councillors Ulrich Savary (Broadheath) and Meenakshi Minnis (Timperley North) both spoke against the proposals and voted against the application.

Cllr Savary accused Labour of continuing its “war on our Green Belt and wildlife”.

"Thousands of residents have signed petitions and raised objections to this road. Yet Labour has chosen to ignore them. Every single Labour councillor on the Planning Committee voted in favour of a scheme that will destroy part of our Green Belt, remove hundreds of trees and threaten protected wildlife. As one resident who attended the meeting pointed out to me afterwards, it felt as though Labour councillors had no regard for local democracy or the views of the very people they are supposed to represent. What is the point of consulting residents if you have already decided to ignore them?"

Partington needs better transport, not more traffic

The Liberal Democrats recognise that Partington needs better transport connections and that residents have been waiting far too long for improvements.

However, Cllr Savary questioned whether building another major road was the right solution. "Nobody is denying that Partington needs better connections. But this road is not simply about improving traffic. It is about opening up Carrington Moss for thousands of new homes. We should be investing in better buses, public transport and exploring rail connections for Partington, rather than spending £132 million on a road that risks encouraging more car journeys. If Trafford Council had brought forward a serious investment plan to improve public transport and connectivity for Partington residents, I would have supported it and fought for it. But that is not what we have here."

Cllr Meenakshi Minnis: A devastating decision for Carrington Moss

Cllr Meenakshi Minnis, Liberal Democrat councillor for Timperley North, described the decision as "a disaster".

“This is a devastating decision for Carrington Moss and the people who have fought so hard to protect it. We are talking about the loss of more than 700 trees, damage to wildlife habitats and the destruction of part of our precious Green Belt. Thousands of residents have made their opposition clear, yet Labour councillors have voted to push ahead regardless. Once this green space is gone, we cannot simply bring it back. Future generations will have to live with the consequences of this decision. Trafford deserves better than a council that declares a climate emergency one day and votes to destroy our natural environment the next.”

Labour's climate emergency commitment questioned

Trafford Council declared a climate emergency, committing itself to tackling climate change and protecting the environment.

Yet Labour councillors have now backed a major road scheme involving the loss of Green Belt land, hundreds of trees and wildlife habitats.

Cllr Savary added:

"Labour declared a climate emergency in Trafford. Yet when faced with a decision that will destroy green space, remove hundreds of trees and threaten wildlife, they voted to press ahead regardless. You cannot claim to be serious about tackling climate change while continuing to approve developments that damage the very environment we should be protecting. Residents deserve better than this."

The Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for our Green Belt, protect local wildlife and campaign for transport improvements that genuinely benefit residents.