Bus Users has taken to the streets and buses around Newcastle’s city centre to raise awareness of plans to ban buses permanently from Blackett Street.
71% of the people we spoke to were opposed to the plans, fearing the ban would make the city centre inaccessible, particularly to older people and people with disabilities. There were also concerns that the ban would effectively ‘kill off’ the high street, following significant fewer visitors to the city centre during a trial closure over the Christmas period.
Many people also believe the ban would lead to a rise in congestion and pollution on surrounding streets, a view supported by Bus Users’ Dawn Badminton-Capps: “The closure of Blackett Street will create a vicious cycle – more traffic will be diverted onto surrounding roads, bus journey times will get slower, and more people will switch from the bus to private vehicles, increasing congestion and pollution to even greater levels.
“We have written to the Council highlighting the social and economic costs of this proposal and asking them to urgently reconsider”.
You can find out more about the consultation here