18/04/2026
For the past 50 years I have lived and worked in Irlam and Cadishead, our small town in Salford, that I am happy and proud to call home. I attended Irlam High School and went on to work at the ‘little’ Irlam and Cadishead Advertiser in the early 1980’s.
Since then, I have worked as a staff photographer for the Salford Reporter and Advertiser until being made redundant in 2009. Worked on the M44 Magazine and then responsible for the Irlam and Cadishead Times and the much-missed Irlam and Cadishead ‘Local Mag.’
I have always tried my very best to support, represent and make Cadishead and Irlam a better place to be and put our community on the map.
I'm currently the Irlam and Cadishead Poppy Appeal Organiser, Cadishead Band Trustee, on the Summer Festival Committee and am a Defibrillator’s Circuit Guardian (Helping to bring online six more 24/7 Defibrillators into our community). Working as an Exams Invigilator and providing Photography enrichment classes for students at the Academy.
I have been a local primary school governor and local Foodbank volunteer. I am involved with the Chat Moss Farm Project and support the GM Blood bikes. Recently supporting our community’s fight against the ridiculous and unnecessary, A57 Peel Green roads project.
What I am trying to say is - I am truly passionate about our corner of Salford.
* That fight against the road proposals would have affected everyone in Irlam and Cadishead. One of the biggest things to come out of that was the lack of communication and information from Salford Council, something that needs to change with more transparency.
* Driving around Cadishead and Irlam, the state of the roads is quite simply shocking. Something if elected I would like to try and help resolve.
* The quantity of neglected sites around Irlam and Cadishead is quite astounding, I would certainly like to know and see what can be done to get these sites into use rather than being potentially ‘land banked’. Many of the sites lie unused, and undeveloped for far too long.
* Many of us are struggling with finances and I would like to explore the opportunity to see if we can re-launch the Salford Credit Union in both Cadishead and Irlam. A way of saving funds and supporting those that are suffering with their financial needs. Especially with Banks and Building Societies being a thing of the past in our area.
* Irlam and Cadishead is a great place to live, work, play, grow up and go to school. But like everywhere else there are issues, problems and concerns that as residents we all have.
I would strive to do my best as your locally elected Salford Councillor. My focus is, has been, and always will be to help where I can and if I can, anyone and everyone, in Cadishead and Irlam and across this great City of Salford that we all call home.
So, please, if you think I would be good for our area, to represent you on Salford Council than please vote for me on Thursday 7th May.
Thank You, Bill McLaughlin (Labour Candidate – Cadishead and Lower Irlam)