It was meant to be Salford's trendy new waterside hotspot but the problems just won't go away

It was supposed to be one of Salford's most exciting places to live, but anger is growing among residents at Middlewood Locks.

The Scarborough Group developer of the flats aimed to build a place with 'friendly, buzzy, city-village vibe', with its own bars and shops on a premium waterside location.

Since its construction, more than 2,000 people have snapped up apartments in the community made up of renters and leaseholders, where the latest batch of homes in a scheme known as The Railings are being sold from £220,000 up to more than £300,000.

READ MORE: The 'underreported' crime causing havoc in a Greater Manchester neighbourhood

But some in Middlewood Locks say the problems are growing.

Three leaseholders, who asked not to be named, told the MEN that relations between residents and the developer have reached 'breaking point'.

They provided evidence showing their service charges had been under budgeted some years, leaving them having to pay out more than they had planned.

But the 'straw that broke the camel's back' came this July when a number of residents received backdated energy bills from January 2021, leaving some facing payments of more than £1,000. The issues led to around 70 Middlewood Locks residents meeting in July, and agree to crowdfund legal advice about their situation, which is ongoing.

It also saw Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey intervene to call on Savills, the company managing Middlewood Locks, to make the situation right and not pass these costs onto residents.

Shortly after the MEN reported on the problem with energy bills in July, Savills announced it would step down from its role as managing agent - but this has left residents wondering who will take over, and whether estate charges could be even