The Borough Road footbridge public inquiry has continued into its second day - with a heavy focus on the alleged impact the potential demolition of the footbridge would have on disabled locals.
North Shields residents objected to the proposed demolition of the footbridge, claiming it would make transport in the area more difficult for people living with disabilities. Residents contend removing the bridge would force disabled people to take allegedly more dangerous routes, including the zebra crossing on Borough Road.
One resident successfully proposed an experiment in an attempt to show their case to government inspector Sue Arnott.
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Objector and resident John Hastie, 77, said: "My solution to all of this is to take a 40-minute break where myself, the inspector, and a representative from North Tyneside Council take a council wheelchair and go to the corner of Waldo Street and Yeoman street. Then do a clockwise rotation of the two crossings on Borough Road with me in the wheelchair.
"Then all of this would be null and void and the inspector could make her decision purely on health and safety. The fact of the matter is that the bridge is the safest place to cross the road and the zebra crossing is not.
"It would have been good to do it six o'clock this morning when it was icy, you'd find it is downright dangerous on both sides of the road."
The inspector, Sue Arnott, agreed to the experiment and it has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
North Tyneside Council documents claim assessments show the removal of the bridge would not disproportionally affect those with protected characteristics, including the disabled.
The inquiry also heard from John Harrison, taking on behalf of the North East branch of Disabled People Against the Cuts.
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Mr Harrison said: "It is not difficult to see why disabled people are concerned about this project. On the one hand, we have a very straight bridge across Borough Road and we are talking about replacing it further down the hill which I believe to be a dangerous site.
"I have spoken to people who are in need of aid to cross a straight bridge, people with walking sticks, people in wheelchairs. I am also taking about people with invisible needs."
Mr Harrison was then cross-examined by Piers Riley-Smith, the council's legal representative. Mr Riley-Smith asked how long it had taken Mr Harris to walk from North Shields metro station to the bridge and back prior to his illness.
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Mr Harrison said that historically it had taken him 30 minutes to make that journey. Mr Riley-Smith then asked Mr Harris whether two wheelchairs or two mobility scooters would be able to cross the Borough Road footbridge at the same time.
Mr Harrison replied he did not believe either walking aide would be able to cross the footbridge at the same time.
The inquiry continues.
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