U-turn on city traffic experiment

Nov 24 2007 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

A CONTROVERSIAL Newcastle traffic experiment has been put on hold after a U-turn by city planners.

The council is reviewing traffic restrictions in Leazes Village after worries that a road closure may be damaging local businesses.

In July, Newcastle councillors decided to close Leazes Lane to cars in response to concerns that motorists were using the road as an alternative to city centre routes blocked by major building schemes, including the extension of Eldon Square shopping centre.

Council road bosses have instead created traffic chaos, as alternative routes near Leazes Lane struggle to cope with the extra pressure.

Objectors had warned the council that the closure, near the Trent House pub junction, would divide the community and hit local businesses.

And now just five months into a proposed 18-month closure, the council is again mulling over the best options as it considers suspending the Leazes Village experiment until January. Wingrove councillor Joyce McCarty said the knock-on effect in her ward had been incredible. “We were warned at the time that this would create more problems, but we could never have predicted just how bad it got,” she said.

“Residents on the alternative routes now have non-stop traffic outside their homes from 5pm to 7pm.”

Fellow Wingrove councillor Nigel Todd said residents in nearby Spital Tongues were feeling the impact of the council’s “badly conceived” transport policy.

He said: “We now have motorists using back lanes as shortcuts and blocking up main roads. This transport management has reduced the quality of life for residents in Spital Tongues and the council now needs to act on proposals to reduce traffic here.

“On Monday, we had a lively public meeting with people from the Highways Department where they considered various measures to reduce traffic, and I hope they still follow these through instead of once again overlooking us.”

Westgate councillor Nick Forbes said the decision to ban traffic in Leazes Village was the right one, but added the council had not thought through the implications.

He said: “Residents in Leazes Village needed these restrictions in place and the council, in acting on its own, has effectively cut our legs out from under us. I know there have been knock-on problems and Spital Tongues should have been included in the original plans. What is now going to happen is Leazes Village will be swamped.

“Not only will we go back to the previous levels of traffic but, as Percy Street is now closed to through-traffic, there will be a significant increase in traffic levels.

“This, in turn, will lead to congestion problems, the possibility of increased accidents and a huge negative impact on the quality of life of people living in the area. The area will again be plagued by taxis and lorries at all hours of the day and night.”

A council spokesman said a decision on whether to suspend the road restrictions would be made on Monday.