ROW/3281308 – North Tyneside Council (Borough Road Bridge, North Shields) Public Footpath Stopping Up Order 2021

Final Submission from North Tyneside Green Party

Based on our original submission and evidence presented during the enquiry our final comments are as follows:

1.  The removal of the PROW (Public Right Of Way) undermines NTC policies

There was no challenge to our argument that removal of the PROW over Borough Rd bridge undermines NTC’s policies in relation to their Carbon net-zero target 2030,  Heath & Wellbeing and Transport by sending the message to all residents that it is not serious about its targets – or at least not as they relate to some of the most disadvantaged communities in the borough.In order to meet the borough net zero target NTC has to rely on widespread behaviour change  amongst its residents because the Council itself only generates 2% of carbon emissions, and transport within the borough – including private cars – contributes over one third. The Council has already embarked upon some ‘nudging’ behaviour change by poster campaigns in relation to encouraging people to use re-usable coffee mugs and exhorting us to have a ‘green’ Christmas. I don’t know, but expect, that a future campaign will focus on ‘active travel’ in order to encourage residents to use their feet, bicycles or public transport instead of their cars.  The removal of this PROW will call into question the Council’s commitment to encouraging and providing the infrastructure for this.The NTC Health & Wellbeing policy commits to developing the infrastructure across the borough to encourage and enable more ‘active travel’. Removing this PROW removes important – and valued by local residents and the wider walking and cycling community – infrastructure.In relation to the alternative Council provision, the pedestrian way across Borough Road, the Council asserts that traffic on the road is quite low and therefore does not present a deterrent in the form of either safety or carbon emissions.  However it seems that the Council has not done any traffic modelling about the car use from the planned 800 new homes to be built on Smiths Docks which is sited immediately to the west of the ferry landing and the footpath leading to the PROW across Borough Road.  Our contention is that residents from this area are unlikely to use their cars to get to North Shields town centre (very limited parking being one reason) but using the footpath which crosses the bridge would be an attractive and more healthy way to get there.  If residents, especially families, want to get to the coast eg Tynemouth, Cullercoats or Whitley Bay they are likely to use their cars because of the distance; if they want to do a big shop at a supermarket or go further north they are also likely to use their cars; and in both cases are likely to use Borough Road as the most direct route.  This will increase the traffic on Borough Road, making the pedestrian crossing less safe and more subject to carbon emissions.   On the other  hand, the bridge over Borough Road provides an attractive route by bicycle or foot from Smiths Docks to North Shields town centre for shopping, a possibility the Council does not seem to have considered.Arising from the evidence presented at the Enquiry we wish to add further comments:

2. The consultation produced a substantial rejection of the proposal to remove the bridge and PROW – a result ignored by the Council.

The area to which households were sent letters informing residents of the intention of the Council to remove the bridge included a substantial number of houses to the north of Prudhoe Terrace and Saville Street. Residents living in this area would have no reason to use the bridge to access the amenities in North Shields eg the metro, the library, banks, shops and cafes because these are immediately to the east of where they live, there is no need to head south first. The Council says it distributed letters to 900 households; of these at least 300 are in this area north of Prudhoe Terrace and Saville Street.  Hence only 600 of these households would be affected by the removal of the bridge.Neither of the consultation venues were within the area affected by the demolition of the bridge. One was to the west of the area, one to the east in North Shields, neither of them less than a half kilometre away from households affected. The consultation was held in the first week of December. No one remembers what the weather was like on that day, but it is likely to have been cold, perhaps wet too. In spite of the distance and probably inclement weather, a significant number of residents did presumably attend the consultation resulting in 52 responses.The Council maintains that the number of these 52 responses was low and although the large majority of them opposed the removal of the bridge, they did not constitute sufficient opposition to give the Council reason to consider alternatives. Given that only 600 of the households informed of the Council’s intention would be affected by the removal of the bridge a response of 52 comprises approximately 7% of households – a level of response which is high especially in an area like this which is one of the most disadvantaged in the borough. (See the submission from Alistair Young for information on this).  The Council compared this response to that of the proposed development at Tynemouth metro, but as it was pointed out to them during the hearing the residents of the Tynemouth area are some of the most well off in the borough and well versed in expressing their views to the Council.  

3. The Council suggests that there will be a net gain of benefit to local residents by using the money it would save, by demolishing the bridge/PROW, in the new North Shields Conservation Area – but this development is aimed at attracting new and better off residents and visitors, not the local communities

Several local residents gave heart-felt testimony to the importance of the bridge/PROW to their daily lives, using it for either walking or cycling sometimes both, for daily business reasons as well as recreation.  Several local residents expressed the view that the Council neglected their area and ignored their concerns around for example the maintenance of the bridge and its surroundings.  The bridge was seen as a local asset, a contributor to the quality of their lives.

The Council argued that the improvements to the North Shields Town Centre and access to the Fish Quay would be of benefit to local residents.  However none of the residents giving evidence supported this view.  On the contrary a certain amount  of scepticism, resentment even, was expressed about so much money being spent there while their one asset – the bridge – was being taken away.

4. The merits of the case

It is our contention that the merits of the case have to be considered at 3 levels: the advantages/disadvantages to the local residents, to the wider community of people most likely to use the PROW, ie walkers and cyclists, and to the wider community of the borough.

• Local residents.Quite a few local residents attended the enquiry and submitted evidence to it, either verbally or in writing.  Without exception they objected to the removal of the PROW for reasons which included:
• west-east accessibility into North Shields Town Centre and the ferry via a relatively flat path – particularly important for people with mobility difficulties;
• the fine view of the river from the bridge and continuing along Yeoman Street – important in lifting spirits when life is hard;
• the importance of the bridge as a heritage asset in relation to both seafaring and ship building, reminding people of the history of North Shields and the part their families played in it, contributing to their pride in place.
• The wider walking and cycling community.In addition to the local residents who used the bridge regularly as walkers or cyclists there were several others who lived outside the immediate area who gave evidence at the enquiry.  
• The residents of the borough. North Tyneside Council is committed to reducing the borough’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. It produces only 2% of the emissions itself, so it has to rely on the residents and employers of the borough to reduce their collective emissions substantially in the next 7 years.

The alternative route provided by the Council, the pedestrian crossing across Borough Road,  was not considered to be an adequate or comparable replacement for the bridge. It involves inclines, traffic and a longer distance.  The argument that improvements to North Shields town centre would be of benefit to the local residents were dismissed as marginal.In summary, local residents view the bridge as a local asset and its removal would be a detriment to their quality of life which the pedestrian crossing and trees and planters in North Shields shopping centre would not replace.They pointed out the importance of the bridge as part of longer walking and cycling routes, taken individually and by groups, because it gave access to the fine views over the river. Without the bridge cyclists and walkers would have to negotiate the steep slope and traffic on Borough Road. The alternative route along which the national Cycling Route now goes is along Clive Street which local residents call The Canyon (evidence Maurice King, RAYS)  because of the high buildings on one side blocking views of the river and the wall and bank and on the other – not a visually attractive route.North Tyneside Council itself recognises the value of the bridge in one of its heritage walks – the Robert Westall Walk, advertised on its website. The route takes you into Tennyson Terrace and across the bridge onto Yeoman Street, with a fine photograph of the river taken from the bridge in the leaflet.Approximately one third of these emissions are produced by cars and other vehicles.  The Council has a number of strategies in place which complement their net-zero strategy, including those relating to transport and health & wellbeing. Taken together the Council message is: leave your cars behind to save on carbon emissions,  and use your feet and bicycles to get around and improve your health and wellbeing at the same time.  It is committed to increasing local infrastructure to encourage this.The Council has started a poster campaign to raise awareness of climate change issues as part of its strategy to encourage the changes in behaviour which are needed to get residents to reduce their carbon emissions.  Encouraging ‘active transport’ is very likely to be included in this campaign.  Ideally residents from all parts of the borough will be looking for attractive routes to walk and cycle as a consequence.  North Shields and the Fish Quay is being redeveloped to attract more visitors.  The route along the river via Yeoman Street and the bridge could  be advertised as part of a walking or cycling trip there. The route is a very attractive one  – as long as the bridge remains as the essential piece of infrastructure allowing people to enjoy the views over the river and avoid the traffic and slope of Borough Road.  Removing the bridge goes against the Health & Wellbeing strategy of increasing infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling and sends a very negative message to residents that it is not serious about their policies.

5. Conclusion

The removal of the Public Right Of Way over the Borough Road bridge will impact negatively on the lives of local residents, reduce the attraction of the path over the bridge for walkers and cyclists and undermine North Tyneside Council policies to encourage ‘active travel’ as part of their target of zero net carbon by 2030.  The pedestrian crossing over Borough Road provided by the Council as an alternative route is longer and involves slopes and traffic and therefore in no way substitutes adequately for the loss of the current amenity.  The Council’s application to remove the public footpath over the bridge should therefore be refused on the merits of the case.

The post Borough Road Bridge enquiry appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

In May this year, NTGP was delighted to share the news that work was to begin on the proposal, supported by £3.5m from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund (ATF). The plan was for a permanent, segregated, unbroken two-way, safe space along the seafront between the North Shields Fish Quay and St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay. We believe this would encourage and help people to use sustainable and active forms of travel. As well as helping with the cost-of-living crisis we believe it would be a significant step forward in the creation of a cleaner, greener borough – something the council has pledged as part of its declaration of a climate emergency.

Alan Steele, NTGP’s Whitley Bay candidate, and campaigner said ‘We have seen more people taking up active travel, cycling, wheeling and walking, as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, but for many, everyday conditions on the roads are simply not safe enough – this is one reason why the scheme is so important to me’

NTGP also encouraged the council to share the results of their 2021 consultation and communicate more openly on progress with the scheme. We would have considered this an excellent and effective way to engage with residents and communities and push for changes that are much needed in the borough. However, as the summer concluded, no work had started and no updates were available. Alan contacted Cllr Sandra Graham, Whitley Bay Councillor and Cabinet Member for the environment, to get an update. We were then informed that work was delayed and would take up to a year to complete, meaning a summer wasted.

We urge NTC to make a start now and as promised, roll out the works in a phased manner to ensure minimum disruption during busy periods.

Alan said ‘Starting now would give us a chance to experience our wonderful seafront by cycling, wheeling, and walking in increased safety and comfort. It is two years since the removal of the sunrise cycleway; we have waited far too long and further delay, when more than £3m funding has been secured, is disappointing, to say the least.’

NTGP is concerned that North Tyneside Council’s inability to deliver the scheme or spend any money on it this financial year may undermine future funding from Active Travel England. Arrangements mean that programmes of delivery will be at risk if swift approval of business cases is not forthcoming, and work start dates are pushed back. Losing grant funding would be disastrous for the borough.

NTGP will continue to ask questions, push for public engagement, and press for immediate action. Please get in touch with us with your views on this, we would like to hear from as many people as possible.

The post Sustainable Seafront Route – an opportunity lost? appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

We broadly support the proposal for a ‘permanent, segregated two-way safe space along the seafront between Whitley Bay and Tynemouth’. We are pleased that the project will be ‘largely’ funded centrally by the Department of Transport’s Active Travel Fund with contributions from Sustrans. It is reassuring to have received confirmation from the council that, because of the funding sources, financing for pavement and walkway improvements will not be affected by this scheme.

We are supportive of the stated aims of the proposal i.e. to:

• Create a cleaner, greener borough as part of NTC’s declaration of a climate emergency
• Support NTC’s commitment to encourage people to take up active travel and adopt a healthier lifestyle
• Link into the planned new transport interchange at North Shields
• Allow easier access to popular tourist attraction such as St Mary’s Lighthouse
• Enhance the coastal section of National Cycle Route 1
• Address conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists

We hope that these aims are reviewed publicly and in a reasonable timescale (maybe a year after coming into operation). We request that the review includes traffic flow monitoring so that everyone can see the impact of the new arrangements on the number of motor vehicles on affected streets such as Eskdale Terr, Whitley Road and other adjacent streets such as The Broadway. This way local residents will be able to engage in a meaningful way in reviews and adjustments to the scheme.

We are pleased to see the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits along the coast. The design appears to show that the area will be a 20mph ZONE. It would be useful to have clarity on this from the council as there is much evidence to suggest benefits from this approach. Research suggests that 20mph zones can be effective in:

• Encouraging a modal shift to active travel and a reduction in dependence on cars
• Providing a safer physical environment
• Reducing ‘aggressive’ driving so reducing levels of particulate matter and pollutant emissions

Our responses to the specific options around Cullercoats are:

Option 1: Clockwise Gyratory – of all the options this seems the most agreeable. Our concerns are around mitigating the effects of increased car traffic on residential roads such as Eskdale Terrace and John Street. We would expect the council to maintain regular contact with the residents of, and businesses in, the streets involved and to respond to concerns and issues raised. We suggest setting a formal review with these residents and businesses after a set period of time (perhaps a year) when issues such as air quality, road safety and disruption could be examined. We hope to see more detail of the council plans for this as alluded to in the proposal.

• Option 2: 3-way traffic signal control – we cannot support this option as it will increase the amount of idling traffic and increase pollution and emissions.

• Option 3: reducing the width of the West foot-way – we cannot support this option as it would significantly reduce the outdoor seating area utilised by local hospitality businesses and significantly reduce the pedestrian space in an area of high footfall. We note that this drawback is highlighted in the council’s proposal.

To fully support the proposal, we would seek reassurance that:

• Residents and businesses in the proposed new one-way area are included in meaningful conversations about the scheme’s impact, particularly around NO2 emissions, levels of Particulate Matter and physical safety.
• The proposal needs to promote active travel improvements for all and addresses the needs of people with mobility problems
• This proposal is part of a borough wide network of integrated active travel routes
• Co-design is carried out with the residents of Whitley Bay to develop a mobility plan for the ward which prioritises active travel and public transport and removes through traffic. We would prefer to see residents involved at an early stage rather than presented with a completed plan with consultation options.
• Full consideration is given to maintaining and improving existing pedestrian routes – this reservation would rule out giving support to Option 3 as this would mean reducing pedestrian space in Cullercoats.
• Local businesses are consulted to ensure that these proposals provide positive business opportunities – again this would rule out supporting Option 3 as this would mean cutting down on outdoor café space
• The proposal is connected to plans to improve air quality – this would rule out supporting Option 2
• The proposal is linked to plans to ensure our public transport is improved, affordable, accessible, sustainably fuelled and low or non-carbon emitting.

Despite our questions about, and the need for reassurance in some aspects of, the proposal, we believe that it presents a fabulous opportunity to invest in and improve our local environment.

The post Sunrise Cycleway – Seafront Sustainable Active Travel Route : Consultation Response appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

1. What are your plans to provide a tourist offer, especially along our coast, which is based on space for people to enjoy sustainable visits rather than traffic congestion? What measures will you introduce this summer and in the longer term?

The Sunrise Cycleway along the coast during the summer of 2020 was a great success, attracting lots of new cyclists and making walking along the promenade a much more relaxing and enjoyable experience. I would reinstate this on a permanent basis, having had consultations with local residents to find solutions to the access problems the one-way traffic system created.

I would also encourage an independent organisation to provide electric scooters for hire so that people with limited mobility could also enjoy the coast between Tynemouth and the Lighthouse during summer months.

2. What measures will you deploy (in short and longer terms) to enable local people to enjoy their streets and public space for their own wellbeing and to support the economic recovery? How will you consult with people on these measures?

During the summer of 2020 North Tyneside Council created some car-free streets in our town centres. This allowed people to browse the shops in a relaxed fashion and meet their friends for a coffee in one of the outside coffee shops. The Fish Quay was also traffic-free allowing people to relax over a drink and/or a meal outside without having to breathe in polluted air.

I would re-instate these during the summer months in consultation with local traders and residents to find solutions to any problems which emerged. There may be other areas in the borough which would benefit from a similar scheme; I would ask ward councillors to identify potential areas within their wards.

3. How will you create a built environment which enables outdoor play and active travel for local journeys (walking, cycling and wheeling) to unlock health and well-being benefits for all ages and abilities?

There has been a great deal of new housing development in the borough recently and more in the years to come. Housing developers tend to want to maximise the amount of housing on-site. As Elected Mayor I will insist on designing in footpaths to enable easy access to bus stops, cycleways for longer journeys, wildlife areas and corridors wide enough for wildlife to use in safety and open sites for recreational activities – along with community facilities. 

We need to use existing policy instruments better and act quickly to incorporate re-instatement of key design guidance such as the National Design Code and forthcoming follow-up to the Department for Transport ‘Manual for Streets’. I would set up a group to develop clearer guidance for developers and planners on this and the adoption of Homezone streets.

I also want to see secure bike storage pods provided adjacent to apartment blocks so that those living there can keep a bike to use.

4. How will you prioritise the needs of children on our streets, by rolling out school streets to all possible primary schools, middle schools, and some secondaries and committing to proactively supporting and expanding the number of play streets across the borough?

Much of our housing in the borough was built before most households owned cars, or cars of the modern size.  This means that there is a lot of on-road parking. This creates dangers for children playing outside and cyclists when non-residents use these roads as short-cuts.  There is already provision for residents in a particular street to close it during school holidays and as Elected Mayor I would support and encourage this.

I would also encourage more schools to close the streets around their entrance to cars during key hours  in order to promote the safety of our children and reducing air pollution at busy times. This would also encourage more children to walk or cycle to school which is good for their physical health.

As part of my policies in relation to local democracy I will be asking Cabinet members and local ward councillors to hold meetings with local residents to listen to their suggestions and concerns and discuss possible developments.  These meetings will help to identify areas where residents would like to create school streets and play streets.

5. How are you planning to work collaboratively with Living Streets North Tyneside to develop and build a network for walking, cycling and wheeling? What will you do to improve the quality of urban design?

The local Green Party did collaborate with Living Streets on social media with support for the Sunrise Cycleway and as Elected Mayor I would certainly want to work with you on developing a borough-wide network of paths for walking, cycling and for wheelchairs.  See above for comments about new housing estates. As Elected Mayor I will work with neighbouring authorities to improve building regulations so that all new buildings have greatly improved energy efficiency and the surrounding environment is more conducive to walking, cycling and outdoor recreation.

Notes

The post Mayoral Candidate Response to Questions from Living Streets North Tyneside appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

“We need a better local transport network in this borough which includes cyclists, pedestrians and public transport”
– Penny Remfry, Green Party candidate for Elected Mayor, 2021

The Green Party wants to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and enjoy the fresh air and natural environment we have around us. Reducing the amount of car-based traffic will also improve air quality – a very important consideration when we know that about 300 early deaths* a year are caused by air pollution in the North of Tyne area as well as respiratory and other illnesses.

Penny says:

“Our car use is responsible for a high proportion of carbon emissions and consequent climate change. The Green Party wants to see more people walking and travelling by bicycle, and not just to reduce our carbon footprint but also because of its health and well-being benefits.”

A 2019 report by BikeLife on people’s views on cycling in Tyneside showed that only a small minority of people cycle on a regular basis at present (around 15%). The main barrier for many people is lack of safety – potholes in roads, lack of safe routes, too much and too speedy traffic are examples.

Penny says:

“As Green Party Elected Mayor I will set about making cycling safer in this borough. In North Tyneside we already have a good network of cycleways based on the waggonways and existing public rights of way through built up areas. We can build on these but we also need to develop protocols on how to use them, so that where cyclists and pedestrians share a path, there is an agreed understanding between them about who has precedence and which side of the footpath to be on.”

The Green Party recognises that cycling and walking are only a part answer to reducing the use of private cars

Penny says:

“We need better, cheaper, and more frequent public transport so that people can travel to work and leisure activities easily. More, and more flexible buses – hydrogen fuelled ideally – are needed to complement our metro system. In order to take car parking pressure off our town centres, I would like to see a number of walk-on, walk-off circular bus routes to link metro stations, local centres, and residential areas. If elected Mayor I would work with the North East authorities to develop a much improved public transport system across the region.”

Notes

[1] https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/5955/bikelife19_tyneside_web.pdf

The post Local Transport – Better is Possible appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

• News of a potential new cycleway is very welcome, if overdue. If elected on 6 May, Green Party Councillors will work to ensure that the plans are prioritised by the Council – to ensure full consultation of the plans – and implemented at the earliest opportunity.

We have campaigned on behalf of residents from Whitley Bay to Tynemouth to (i) introduce a new segregated cycleway and (ii) hold a full consultation to bring a cycleway that meets the needs of residents. We have raised this directly with Council Officers and with Councillors.

We have learnt, from a current North Tyneside Councillor, that discussions between North Tyneside Council, the North of Tyne Combined Authority and Sustrans regarding a permanent segregated cycleway to replace the Sunrise Cycleway have been ongoing and that a detailed consultation will take place. We understand that funding for the new cycleway has been agreed.

If this report is correct, we are very happy that our campaign has been successful in driving forward the discussion – and we are pleased to hear that action will start following the local elections.

Safe Space

We are very happy that the Council now recognises the need to provide safe space for cyclists, away from pedestrians – although the fact that this comes six months after the closure of the Sunrise Cycleway represents an unacceptable delay.

The delay means that delivery is now unlikely to provide the new cycle route in time for Summer 2021 given the time needed for proper consultation. We would encourage the Council to implement a temporary scheme to ensure safe space over the coming months.

Funding

The news also confirms that funding has been agreed – however, given Tranche 2 of Government funding was agreed back in November, we are not sure that this should be considered ‘news’. The fact that the Combined Authority is involved gives us hope that the funding will extend the scope of the new cycleway – and create a connected network of segregated cycle paths for our region.

The post Green News – a new dawn for Sunrise Cycleway? appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

As the weekend brought warmer weather, it also brought crowds to our coast.

These crowds are a concern for coastal residents from Tynemouth to Whitley Bay:

(1) the crowding of people on the promenade, without space to social distance, risks a spike in the local Covid infection rate.

(2) the promenade, as part of the National Cycle Network, is shared by pedestrians and cyclists – meaning the two face a continual game of ‘dodge’.

(3) the road, which was previously the Sunrise Cycleway, is filled with queues of static cars emitting pollution.

All of this reinforces the need for safe space for people.

This weekend marked five months since the Council announced the removal of Covid secure, traffic free, safe spaces. The Council promised a consultation to reintroduce safe space – and made a commitment to encourage active travel (1).

In those 5 months, we have asked the Council for answers on the closure of those safe spaces – and we have waited for the promised consultation. Yet, despite the availability of Regional Funding, the Council has not delivered.

As the weather improves, and our coast becomes busier, the Council’s plan for managing the relaxation of Covid Restrictions fails to set out any provision for safe space (2). We would expect the plan to deliver:

(i) safe space for pedestrians.

(ii) dedicated space for cyclists.

(iii) traffic management to reduce congestion and to keep pollution awa from pedestrian and residential areas.

We need a Green voice in North Tyneside Council to ensure that promises are kept and to deliver on commitments.

Better Is Possible | Vote Green | 6 May 2021

(1) https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/news/27133/council-sets-out-future-pop-coastal-cycle-lane

(2) https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/news/27922/council-sets-out-open-spaces-plans-ahead-lockdown-easing

The post Green Viewpoint : Coastal Congestion – the need for Safe Space appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

The ambitious £7bn Plan to update North East Transport infrastructure is due to be put forward for approval by local Councils next week (16 March 2021).

The Plan has some ambitious aims – and the Chair of Transport North East (Cllr Martin Gannon) believes that the Plan will help the local economy, help local people to make healthy, clean and sustainable transport choices, and will help correct years of imbalance in transport investment [see BBC Look North].

The Plan does have some good objectives – and has a fantastic vision : “Moving to a green, healthy, dynamic and thriving North East”

However, for North Tyneside Borough, the ambition is lacking.

1. There are no Schemes under the Plan’s heading of ‘Helping People to make the right travel choice’.
   
2. The commitment to upgrade active travel infrastructure is limited to a vague promise to look at ‘improvements to cycling and walking routes’ as an immediate action – with the 5 year plan for active travel infrastructure focused on the A19 corridor and the A191; and a final vague promise to continue ‘local cycling and walking improvements’.
   
3. The North Shields regeneration plan is the only Scheme under the Plan’s ‘Bus, Ferry and First/Last Mile’ section.
   
4. The only Schemes for Local Rail and Metro in our area are:
   (i) the new Metro station at Murton Gap, which had previously been promised for the new housing development; and
   (ii) a long term Scheme to run a new Metro line through the Silverlink, necessary due to poor planning when building the Cobalt Business Park.
   
   [Note: we are aware of additional discussions regarding new stations at Killingworth Moor, again as part of the new housing development]
   
5. The Plan includes several Schemes to promote travel by car; improving the A19, the A191, the A192; and improving vehicle access to the Tyne Enterprise Zone.
   
   The Plan also has wider Schemes, such as improving the Electric Car Charging Network throughout the Region.

We are disappointed on the lack of ambition to help people to make active travel choices – moving out of cars and onto public transport. We recognise that, for some, car use is essential. However, we expect our Council to do more to encourage active travel.

The Sunrise Cycleway and the other Pedestrian Zones implemented in Summer 2020 were a show of fantastic innovation from Council Officers.

The problems faced were avoidable, through poor planning for directing cars away from residential streets, and the sudden decision to remove the Cycleway before the trial period reached its end.

We need our Council to be brave – and to lead the way in promoting active travel, giving safe space to pedestrians and cyclists.

We need our Council to demand more from our public transport providers.

The North East Transport Plan has many positives – but it also represents a missed opportunity to do more to implement Schemes that match the overall vision.

We need more Green voices to be represented to ensure we can move to a green, healthy, dynamic and thriving North East.

The post Green Viewpoint: North East Transport Plan appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

We are pleased to confirm that, following our objections, the Council has confirmed that it will not remove the right of way – and the decision will be referred to the Planning Inspectorate.

The referral to the Planning Inspectorate allows for their independent evaluation and prior to a final decision.  

The Planning Inspectorate will be provided with a detailed case file, which will include copies of all comments and objections received.

The inspector may request further information or indeed call a public inquiry which would be held locally (subject to the guidance related to Covid 19). 

We are hopeful that the Planning Inspectorate will agree that Borough Bridge must be maintained.

The post Borough Bridge : Public Right of Way Consultation – Council Response appeared first on North Tyneside Green Party.

We are firmly opposed to the removal and demolition of this historic footbridge and believe that the right of way should be preserved.

We want to save the public right of way, so that residents, visitors to North Tyneside, and future generations, can enjoy an accessible and safe crossing into the town. The public right of way leads across Borough Road via the footbridge and along the bank side, giving pedestrians high level views over the New Quay Conservation Area and the Mouth of the Tyne.

Community Access by foot to Borough Road footbridge
The public right of way across the footbridge has linked two communities for nearly 200 years and is used by locals and visitors alike.

The removal of the public right of way across the Borough Road footbridge will adversely impact the ability of local people – in particular those approaching from the top of the steep slopes of the Tyne banks – to cross the Cut in Borough Road from Waldo Street to Tennyson Terrace.

As evidence we refer to North Tyneside Council’s 2017 pedestrian count showed the 70% of vulnerable people – for example those from the Respite Care home, those using disability wheelchairs or scooters, or people with pushchairs, young children or children on bikes – use the footbridge to cross Borough Road rather than crossing it at street level.

We understand that an Equality Impact Assessment has not been produced by North Tyneside Council. In addition, we understand that no safety audit has been completed.

Healthier option
The public right of way avoids traffic in Borough Road and leads into North Shields.

This is particularly important to avoid the consequent air pollution and noise. N.B. the annual deaths from air pollution in north Tyneside is estimated at 101; ref: Public Health England 2014.

Local public opposition
There have been 2,650 people, mostly residents of North Shields, who have signed petitions to oppose the demolition of an iconic bridge – and implied removal of the public right of way – that many of them still use at various times.

We are aware that there are about 120 people who cross the bridge every day.

Alternative Borough Road Crossing
The new crossing in Borough Road surface level crossing is not suitable as a replacement for the existing public right of way which is across the Borough Bridge footbridge.

From central North Shields there is already an increased use of vehicles in the area, using Borough Road as a cut through to the Tyne Tunnel as well as new traffic generated by the present and future Smiths Docks developments and these are a small proportion of the 800 homes planned for Smith Dock, so traffic will hugely increase in Borough road. This was caused by the opening up of Prince Consort Road.

We note that there have been no traffic surveys of Borough Road before /after the opening of the new Tyne Tunnel route via Borough Road or since. With increasing traffic volumes in future in any case due to nearby developments, and as a result safety concerns must also be raised
as removal of the right of way would mean many more people would be obliged to negotiate Borough Road, which is a steep and busy road.

The health impact on pedestrians of NOx and particulates emissions must also be considered.

The current right of way avoids the need to walk next to or across the road.
We are concerned that an Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposal is not apparent which takes these changes into account.

Crossing Borough Road by the new surface level crossing will mean anyone with walking or other mobility issues (e.g. wheelchair users and pram users) will have to negotiate two steep slopes : at the Addison Street end ( the Trinity Lane Passageway) and Waldo Street . These streets do not accord with Government Guidelines nor advice gained from Living Streets.

Additionally, there is no pavement on the Borough Road side of Waldo Street, only a steep grass verge in private ownership and a narrow strip of land privately owned in front of the garages. Therefore, pedestrians will have to cross two roads to get to Waldo Street from and onto Yeoman Street: Borough Road and then go up the steep slope of the footway on the northern side of the street and cross further along.

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