A57 team donates ‘baby elephant’ weight of food to Hyde foodbank

More than 100 kilograms of food, the equivalent weight of a baby elephant, has been donated to a Hyde foodbank thanks to a festive initiative led by National Highways and its partners.

The generous contribution was presented to Tameside South and Longdendale Foodbank, providing vital support at one of its busiest times of the year in the run-up to Christmas.

The donation was organised by teams from National Highways and Balfour Beatty, who are currently delivering the A57 Link Roads scheme, and forms part of a wider programme of social value activity taking place throughout 2025.

Senior Project Manager Tom Peckitt said the team was committed to making a positive difference beyond construction work.

“Our team is proud to play an active and supportive role in the community, lending a hand and making a difference,” he said. “We have engaged with local schools and colleges and volunteered to help groups, organisations and charities throughout 2025. It’s not just about building roads; it’s about being a good neighbour and supporting the community.”

The foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust network, operates as an independent charity and relies entirely on public donations. Alongside tinned and packet items, it also provides fresh produce and special Christmas parcels, including festive treats such as chocolate biscuits, tins of ham and salmon, and selection boxes.

Balfour Beatty Project Director Eileen Longworth praised the efforts of the A57 team.

“The huge volume of food collected for the foodbank was a magnificent achievement,” she said. “Thanks to everyone’s generosity we were able to donate 109 kilos of food items in total. We take great pride in building relationships with the local community and look forward to continuing to do more in the new year.”

To maximise donations, the project team organised a workplace tombola, with colleagues donating food items in exchange for tickets. Additional cash raised was used to purchase further essential supplies.

Moira Wallis, from Tameside South and Longdendale Foodbank, said the support was invaluable.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation from the A57 Link Roads team,” she said. “It really helps us at this time of year when we need to keep our warehouse fully stocked so that we can distribute emergency parcels over the Christmas period for those families that need them most. Without donations like this we simply can’t provide the service.”

The foodbank donation is just one element of a wide-ranging programme of community activity delivered by the A57 Link Roads team over the past year. Other initiatives have included:

• Partnering with The Bread and Butter Thing to pack and distribute food parcels
• Helping create a woodland walk at Willow Wood Hospice
• Building a willow tree walk and quiet space at Etherow Park in Hollingworth
• Donating thousands of daffodil bulbs to community groups and supporting local litter picks, including an RSPCA clean-up in Tintwistle
• Working with schools and colleges across Tameside to deliver careers guidance in engineering
• Supporting the Hattersley Christmas Lights switch-on event

National Highways and Balfour Beatty say they are committed to continuing and expanding their community partnerships into 2026 as work on the scheme progresses.

The A57 Link Roads project includes two new routes: Mottram Moor Link Road – a dual carriageway from the M67 junction 4 roundabouts to a new junction on the A57, and the A57 Link Road – a single carriageway connecting Mottram Moor to a new junction at Woolley Bridge

The scheme aims to reduce congestion, improve journeys between Manchester and Sheffield, support economic growth and reduce noise and pollution for communities in Mottram-in-Longdendale.

For more information about the scheme, visit the National Highways A57 Link Roads webpage: A57 link roads - National Highways