A multi-million pound plan that will radically change the face of Newcastle city centre has been unveiled.
Transport bosses’ controversial ambition to permanently close one of the city’s busiest shopping areas to traffic is finally set to take a major step forward under the new designs.
Proposals revealed by Newcastle City Council show how Blackett Street could be permanently pedestrianised, as it was on a temporary basis during the recent Christmas markets.
The move is certain to provoke anger from bus companies, who have repeatedly voiced opposition to the idea of shutting Blackett Street and would be forced to reroute many services if the plan goes ahead.
Council chiefs say the transformation would create a “modern, vibrant and welcoming city centre” and would pave the way for more green areas, pavement cafes, and events.
The pedestrianised zone would extend along the length of Blackett Street, starting at the junction with Percy Street and running to just short of the City Library, and would also encompass a section of Pilgrim Street outside the Stack shipping container village and Tyneside Cinema.
Buses that currently use Blackett Street and Pilgrim Street to cut through the middle of the city centre would have to be diverted onto a bus loop around Percy Street, Newgate Street, Market Street, and John Dobson Street.
City centre businesses and street traders are also being warned of a potential new ban on delivery vehicles.
The proposals would mean no delivery vehicles allowed between 7am and 10pm on Blackett Street, Northumberland Street, Clayton Street, Nelson Street, Grey Street and Grainger Street.
The plans also include relocated taxi ranks, loading bays, on-street parking, and disabled parking spaces.
That would result in the removal of on-street parking on Shakespeare Street, one of the worst parking fine hotspots in the city, to be replaced with a taxi rank and disabled bays.
A public consultation on the plans, which it is thought would cost in excess of £10m to implement, will run until January 31.
A second consultation is expected to be held in the spring, with a final decision on the plans taken sometime after May’s local elections - though that could be subject to an appeal from opponents and no target date has been given for the changes coming into force.
Coun Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality at Newcastle City Council, said: “We’ve seen how the Christmas market and the temporary changes over the past two summers have brought a real buzz to Newcastle and this has shown the potential that there is to transform the city and the local economy by making changes to our roads and public spaces.
“We believe that taking vehicles off Blackett Street permanently will make a huge difference to this part of the city.
"It’s a very busy shopping area, with lots of people on foot, so it’s important that this is a safe and welcoming environment.
“Our intention is for buses to use alternative routes through the city, while continuing to stop at locations close to the main shopping areas.
"We’ve already invested in a series of improvements along these routes to help ensure services can operate efficiently but know we’d need to do more to continue to improve the routes.
“We know that many people rely on public transport to get in and out of the city and, as we seek to encourage more people out of their cars in order to improve our air quality, we need to ensure that public transport remains a convenient choice.”
People can comment on the plans at newcastle.gov.uk/citycentre or by phoning 0191 278 2767.
The following drop-in events are also being held:
- 11am to 3pm, Tuesday January 14 - Grainger Market, Alley 2, Unit 80/81.
- 4pm to 8pm, Thursday January 16 - Eldon Square, ground floor near Grey’s Monument entrance.
- 11am to 3pm, Monday January 20 - Brunswick Methodist Church.
- 4pm to 8pm, Wednesday January 22- Eldon Square, ground floor near Grey’s Monument entrance.
