A public inquiry into controversial plans to pedestrianise one of Newcastle city centre’s busiest streets is set to be triggered.
City councillors granted their approval on Monday night for an inquiry to be held into proposals to ban traffic from the Blackett Street bus route, as Newcastle's Labour leader warned that the area must not be allowed to "die and lapse into obscurity". The idea forms a key part of Newcastle City Council’s £50m vision to redesign the city centre and pedestrianise a huge section of it, which would also include the entirety of Grey Street, to create a cleaner, greener environment for shoppers and workers.
But the thought of removing vehicles from Blackett Street, plus New Bridge Street West and the northern section of Pilgrim Street, has sparked a series of concerns – particularly from bus operator Stagecoach. There have been complaints that the move will prevent people who rely on buses, particularly the elderly and disabled, getting to the heart of the city centre and over the potential for rising congestion and air pollution caused by rerouting services onto a new bus loop.
