Northumbria Police have said that Newcastle City Council's new Jesmond traffic measures are affecting their ability to effectively police the area through longer police response times. Residents have long protested the Council's decision to install a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), reaching out to police for their opinion via a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request last month.
It comes after the Council detailed in a report that traffic levels on Osborne Avenue have decreased by more than 2,500 vehicles per day, after they implemented traffic calming measures in the area. Road closures have been imposed on residential streets since March this year to prevent drivers from using 'rat runs' between Osborne Road and Cradlewell.
However, the scheme has been met with disgust by numerous local residents, saying that the LTN has been set up 'without proper consultation', dubbing it 'discriminatory'. OneJesmond is a citizens' group which is strongly opposed to the scheme, who say that the new traffic measures have made living in Jesmond 'difficult' for many residents - and bring 'major difficulties for businesses and visitors to the area'.
