Salford's controlling Labour councillors have been accused of 'hypocrisy' over their declaration of a biodiversity emergency in the city. The accusation came at a stormy city council meeting from the opposing Conservative group, who claim pending proposals for a 450-home development on Green Belt land between the A580 East Lancs Road and the M61 sliproad in Worsley contradict Labour's stance.
Property giant Peel has put forward the £54million plan for the new estate at Hazelhurst Farm, sparking an angry backlash from hundreds of local residents. However, at yesterday's meeting Coun Mike McCusker put forward a motion declaring a 'biodiversity emergency'.
It said that biodiversity is declining at an 'unprecedented rate' and that the pressures driving it are 'intensifying'. Coun McCusker said that none of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets - an ambitious set of global goals aimed at protecting the natural environment - would be met.
