Traffic levels on a busy Jesmond street have decreased by more than 2,500 vehicles a day following the introduction of the low traffic zone, according to a report released by Newcastle City Council.
Since March this year, a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) has been in force in Jesmond, with road closures imposed on residential streets by the council to stop drivers using them as rat runs between Osborne Road and Cradlewell. The controversial scheme, which has prompted protests from some locals, has received more than 1,000 negative comments from people who have taken part in an online consultation about the changes, compared to 316 positive comments.
However, the council has been monitoring the impact of traffic on the surrounding streets, as well as collecting data on numbers of people walking and cycling and reviewing feedback from residents and local businesses. And now a new interim report, released half-way through the public consultation period, has provided an insight into the impact of the changes in the area.
