Proposed ‘Temporary Access Road’ in Trafford causes concern

A Temporary Access Road and construction compounds that are proposed to start near the BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) facility in Carrington have caused residents and politicians concerns.

The issues local people will face are significant if this temporary access road gets the green light; the damage to the environment through Carrington Moss is causing alarm. The traffic situation will be a nightmare along Sinderland Lane through to Sinderland Road and onto the A56 Manchester Road.

It is likely Partington residents will also feel the pain as Sinderland Lane gets clogged up due to the amount of construction traffic going to Birch Road from Manchester Road A56, roadworks could also add to the delays.

If the application gets the green light the 2 year ‘Temporary Access Road’ could also affect Manchester United players and staff coming from Carrington Training Ground heading towards Sinderland Lane, it is likely they will have to travel down Isherwood Road and take a left down Manchester Road towards Partington and travel down Moss Lane towards SInderland Lane.

Cyclists, hikers, and horse riders will also be affected as the access road will go through the TPT (Trans Pennine Trail), Sustrans have objected to the plans. One resident objecting to the application claimed that they would move out of the area if plans get the thumbs up by Trafford Council.

The immediate roads affected are Ashton Road, North Road, Birch Road, and some parts of Isherwood Road; some of these roads will also be widened, which will badly affect those roads.

Wildlife will also be badly affected by the HGV’s and other vehicles. Construction noise and light pollution will disturb what is currently home to many bird species and other wildlife that we need to be protecting.

We did not see any traffic management files in the application, nothing about how they would try and protect wildlife, and nothing about what happens to those that use the TPT.

Nothing is mentioned about the horses that go along the TPT and other areas. These animals are very sensitive to noise; having huge HGVs anywhere near the horses are going to spook them. This new temporary road must not go ahead based on everything we have said and for those residents who have objected.

It is also noted to read in the application that the construction firm wants Trafford Council to bypass planning so they can get on with constructing this Temporary Road without planning permission, hoping to bypass residents objections, never thinking about the two years of even more! chaos on our already dangerous and badly polluted roads.

These battery storage facilities do present a bit of a hazard. Already, four sites in the UK have had serious incidents; worldwide, there has been a surge in BESS fires, and several of these sites were still under construction. Whilst this application on this BESS site does have good health and safety, it’s something to think about.

In the application, it was pointed out by Councillor Duncan that “No traffic management plan was provided.” There should also have been a public consultation, and nothing has been done. He believes the floating road over Carrington Moss will do nothing to protect it.

If you want to object to this application, you can do so by using ref number 116930/CPL/25.