Tributes have been paid to a former councillor who pioneered the regeneration of Salford Quays, Ben Wallsworth MBE. He died peacefully in his sleep aged 103, Salford Council has announced.
Mr Wallsworth spent 44 years as a councillor in Salford and is credited with being the visionary behind transforming the derelict Salford docks into today's regenerated Salford Quays. He also received a medal for bravery during service at Dunkirk in World War II. Flags at Salford Civic Centre have been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect.
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, paying tribute to Mr Wallsworth said: "Ben was a true son of Salford, a giant in the history of our proud city. Millions of people now live, work and visit his legacy at Salford Quays and MediaCityUK every year.
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"Ben’s vision was to create something new from a huge, disused site and the transformation of Salford Docks which he helped to kickstart has been described as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the UK. Equally important to Ben, who grew up in inner city Ordsall, was protecting and enhancing Salford’s green spaces. His idea to create Worsley Greenway continues to protect open land between Monton and Worsley from development to this day, a legacy Salford City Council fought to retain.
"Ben served his country during World War Two and Salford as a councillor for 44 years afterwards. He rightly deserved being honoured with the Freedom of Salford for his outstanding, lifelong contribution. My thoughts are with his family and friends. He will not be forgotten."
As well as pioneering Salford Quays he is known for creating the Worsley Greenway.
Mr Wallsworth grew up in Ordsall and was first elected to represent Labour in Weaste, Langworth and Blackfriars in 1957. He received his MBE in 2001, serviced as the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford from 2002 to 2003, was awarded the Freedom of the City of Salford in October 2019 just days before his 100th birthday.
He was chair of the planning committee when Salford City Council used a derelict land grant to buy part of the former docks for £1 million in 1983. Within 10 years private and public investment in the area totalled around £280 million and has continued to grow ever since. The area now houses MediaCityUK, The Lowry, and the Imperial War Museum.
Former councillor Derek Antrobus who worked alongside Mr Wallsworth for more than 30 years said: "He was always keen on creating good spaces for people to enjoy their lives and he was a green campaigner before it was even a thing. He often talked of buses running on hydrogen gas which he had seen in Canada where he had family and in addition to Red Rose Forest and the Greenway he championed the council taking over Blackleach reservoir which many were not convinced about.
"Ben tenaciously fought his corner and we now have a beautiful country park. I often pause to think of him when I visit. I have many special memories of a wonderful man who did so much for Salford."
Tom Stannard, current Chief Executive of Salford City Council, said: "Salford has benefitted so much from the life and work of Mr Wallsworth. He leaves behind a real legacy in the green and urban spaces he helped to shape in the city he loved and our city is all the richer for it."
