A petition demanding the removal of controversial bollards that have blocked traffic from using several streets in Jesmond has been backed by 1,700 people in just a few days.
Controversy has raged over the area’s new Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) since it was installed in March, sparking fury among many locals who say it has resulted in congestion chaos. The scheme prevents motorists from cutting through residential roads to get between Osborne Road and the Cradlewell, with the aim of making those streets safer and less polluted for pedestrians, cyclists, and children.
But Antony Baird, who set up the change.org petition on Saturday, alleged that the LTN had impeded emergency services, was “damaging livelihoods and businesses”, and had increased traffic on surrounding streets – particularly the main arteries of Osborne Road and Jesmond Road. The 60-year-old, of Jesmond Vale, called for the scheme to be axed immediately and for the council to run “thorough, transparent and unbiased public consultation” ahead of any future plans, with many complainants having accused the local authority of not giving sufficient notice of the measures.
The LTN was installed on an 18-month trial basis, with public consultation happening in the first six months after its introduction, and Newcastle City Council says it is “continuing to review feedback” – while adding that the exercise is “not a referendum”.
Mr Baird, a retired IT worker who says he is a keen cyclist himself, said: “The bollards and barricades were dumped on Jesmond by Newcastle Council without any adequate consultation. The East Jesmond LTN is causing a huge increase in traffic congestion on Jesmond Road and Osborne Road which is disrupting the lives and livelihoods of people and businesses across the city.
“Our demands are firstly that Newcastle Council removes the 'East Jesmond Low Traffic Scheme'. Then, before any further Low Traffic Neighbourhoods or Clean Air Zones are created in the city, we demand that Newcastle Council commits to carrying out open and unbiased public consultation which engages with a broad range of residents and businesses instead of just listening to specific campaign groups.”
Supporters of the LTN, including local cycling campaigners and a group of medics, have argued that the project should be given time to bed in and that longer car journeys around Jesmond are a “small price to pay” for protecting children from emissions.
Jane Byrne, the council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This trial scheme is to prevent through traffic using residential streets between Osborne Road and Cradlewell. Neighbourhoods should be somewhere you can get to, but not be used as a through route, which is what the scheme provides. All businesses and properties are still accessible by car.
“Reducing traffic on local streets not only makes the area safer, but encourages more people to walk, wheel and cycle on local journeys, which is good for the environment, as well as improving health and wellbeing.
“The petition has many factual errors, so it is important to point out the following. Before the scheme was implemented, we asked people and businesses to tell us their views, as part of a pre-consultation period, with 3,500 leaflets delivered in the local area. The formal public consultation is running now, as required by the legal orders, which runs from when the scheme is implemented. Emergency services were consulted throughout the development of this scheme, and we have worked together to ensure emergency access is available at all times.
“Furthermore, this is a consultation, not a referendum, and we’re listening to a wide range of voices. We’re now half-way through the trial and we are continuing to review the feedback as well as looking at the impact of traffic on local streets and other data we have collected, which we will share with residents soon.”
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