The future of one of Newcastle’s busiest streets remains in limbo, with a public inquiry to decide its fate still not set.
A Government inspector will ultimately have to rule on whether or not Newcastle City Council’s plans to pedestrianise Blackett Street can go ahead, but bosses have confirmed that they have yet to trigger a long-awaited hearing. City transport officials have harboured ambitions of removing traffic from the busy route for years, as part of £50m proposals to make the city centre safer and less polluted.
But the idea has proved unpopular with bus operators, particularly Stagecoach, who would have to divert services on a new bus loop. On top of fears about surrounding roads becoming gridlocked if Blackett Street is shut to vehicles, there have been complaints that the move would prevent elderly and disabled people having easy access to the heart of the city centre.
