Plans to pedestrianise one of Newcastle city centre’s busiest and most polluted streets have been put under review, it has been confirmed.
Progress has stalled on efforts to turn the Blackett Street bus and taxi route into a vehicle-free zone, a controversial move that has been opposed by bus operators. It is almost six months since Newcastle City Council agreed to press ahead with the transformation and allow transport bosses to set in motion a public inquiry on it, with a government inspector ultimately having to decide whether or not the project can go ahead.
But the future of the proposals has been thrown into further doubt by a change in leadership at the council, with long-serving Nick Forbes having been ousted earlier this year and new city Labour leader Nick Kemp having overhauled the local authority’s cabinet. A council spokesperson confirmed that the inquiry is still yet to be triggered, while the new administration’s vision for the city centre is now set to be unveiled in October.
