Metrolink to the Airport and the Impending Destruction of the Mersey Valley

I don’t suppose that I need to remind anyone who lives locally of the recent fight to save Hardy Farm (part of Chorlton Meadows) from a massive sporting complex which would have completely altered the character of this well-loved green space and quite probably have severely damaged its biodiversity? If it weren’t for the fact that the whole community pulled together and opposed this scheme, and were supported in their opposition by all of the local politicians, we would now be saddled with an astro-turf pitch, an ‘all-weather’ pitch and twelve 49 ft floodlights and their attendant light pollution.  And no doubt we would also be putting up with lots of swearing, litter and local streets choked with cars and coaches – all of which, unfortunately, seem to go with football these days.

But all of this pales into insignificance compared to the havoc that will be wrought on the whole area if Metrolink is driven through. An article in the South Manchester Reporter last year (May 14, 2009) emphasised that this was a real possibility (as opposed to the talk and rumours that had been flying around for years).  The front page article was headlined:

“Two tram lines: No congestion charge”

and stated that:

“Two new Metrolink lines are to be created in south Manchester. The tracks, which will link Chorlton with Didsbury and Withington, as well as Manchester Airport, are part of a £1.4 billion transport bonanza across Greater Manchester.

The package will be brought in without the need for a congestion charge and will finally see the completion of the Big Bang of the Metrolink network.”

Much of the rest of the article appeared to be about various local politicians congratulating themselves on achieving this coup (although, if they achieved it that easily, why did we need the congestion charge?).

Last month (March 11, 2010) another article appeared in the same paper. This time the headline was:

“Trams Cash Is ‘Biggest Boost For A Century’”.

The article went on:

“A funding package for trams to run through south Manchester has been confirmed this week. It’s worth £111m and is being described as the biggest single investment in public transport for hundreds (sic) of years. The package includes £85m for the Chorlton to Didsbury line and £26m for the Manchester Airport spur.”  The same article also contains the following ominous paragraph: “Work on the Manchester Airport spur is due to start immediately.”  And, yes, I’m as puzzled as you are as to why the Airport spur will cost less than a third of the amount that the ‘Chorlton to Didsbury’ (actually it’s Old Trafford to Didsbury) link will cost – as surely the Airport spur will require major infra-structure works – such as a bridge across the Mersey?

Anyway, I suppose, on balance, the Metrolink is a good thing (although anyone who uses the existing lines at rush hour may not agree with me!).  In addition the links between Old Trafford, through Chorlton to Didsbury are being constructed on existing old railway lines. Sadly, though, these old lines had become rich in wildlife since they were abandoned, and much of this has now been lost – at a time when we can’t afford to lose much more wildlife. Nevertheless, as an ardent conservationist and environmentalist it is hard for me to argue against improvements to the local public transport network.

But the line across the Mersey Valley to Wythenshawe and the Airport is a very different matter. To build this new line will require massive and intrusive engineering works which will completely change the character of this central part of the Valley and the surrounding area. Let’s look at some of the implications behind this scheme – although, in the absence of detailed plans, there are more questions than answers. Much of what follows is semi-speculative, but is based on vague maps published with the literature on the TIFF bid (Consultation Brochure, 2008) and even vaguer maps published in local newspapers.

Somewhere around the Hough End area a spur will branch off the Old Trafford to Didsbury line and go down the centre of Mauldeth Road West. Anyone who knows this road will know that it is blessed with dozens of fine, mature trees – but, presumably all of these will need to be felled. It will then cross Barlow Moor Road and proceed down Hardy Lane. It is then supposed to cross the area known as Lower Hardy Farm (that area of semi-mature woodland between Hardy Farm and Chorlton Golf Course). This will represent a really major loss of biodiversity; Lower Hardy Farm is one of the richest areas in the central Mersey Valley and a Site of Biological Importance. Then a bridge across the river will be required and this will need to be a substantial structure. On the other side of the river the line is supposed to proceed on to Sale Water Park. But the burning question is: where will the crossing be, exactly? One possibility is Sale Golf Course – but this is unlikely – golfers tend to be influential people and won’t take kindly to the prospect of losing a chunk of their playground. So, the most likely crossing point is Jackson’s Boat and Rifle Road. And this will be a major tragedy: the footbridge and the Pub are in many ways the focal point for the Mersey Valley and the Metrolink threatens to remove that focus. Next to the pub is a fine grove of beech and sycamore trees and these will be threatened, as will the mature trees along Rifle Road. At Sale Water Park a Park & Ride car park and station are indicated, which implies more loss of open space and more disturbance.  According to last year’s Reporter article the line then turns south east, running parallel to the motorway, before eventually crossing it into Northern Moor. According to the TIFF bid literature it then takes a somewhat circuitous route to Wythenshawe centre and the Airport.

I think that there’s no doubt that this is all to do with airport expansion. An article in the Manchester Evening News last month (March 8, 2010) informed us that:

“Manchester Airport will double the number of flights it handles and become as busy as Heathrow is today, the government has predicted.

According to the official forecast, there will be 449,000 take offs and landings at Manchester by 2050 – up from 213,000 in 2005.

It would mean a flight taking off on average every 70 seconds.”

In that light the Metro seems a lot less environmentally friendly, doesn’t it?  Although no doubt the Council is eager to boost its ‘green credentials’ by claiming that, at least, transport to and from the airport is ‘sustainable’.  I’m sorry, but, ‘sustainable transport’ or not, this is looking to me more and more like the same old, same old trashing of the environment for profit.

And just building the line won’t be an end to the matter. I bet there’ll be lots of juicy development possibilities along the course of the line: All of those little used football pitches at Hough End (is that why West Didsbury and Chorlton FC didn’t want their new ground there, I wonder?); Chorlton Park (We don’t need that, do we? Parks are so terribly old-fashioned!); the Cricket Club ground on Hardy Lane and the old UMIST Halls of Residence. And I just wonder if WDACFC will fare better in their bid for ‘World Domination’ when there’s a Metro stop on Hardy Lane?

And what about the enormous loss of biodiversity implied by all of this. Never mind. No doubt the Council and GMPTE will promise to plant lots and lots of trees for all of those that they chop down. Don’t be fooled, though. Tree planting is pure tokenism and has very little to do with conservation. But more to the point, will there be any open space left to plant the trees on?

In the run-up to the election, now seems as good a time as any to ask the candidates exactly what the implications of this scheme are for the future of the Mersey Valley.

Dave Bishop, April 2010