Background
The proposal to close Newcastle City Centre’s Blackett Street to buses is of major concern to Bus Users, and to people who travel to and from the area. As a result of Newcastle City Council’s formal consultation on the proposal, we wanted to ensure that the voices of these people are heard.
Our experience across the country is that bus passengers do not tend to respond to consultations around road closures or air pollution as they don’t always recognise the impact the proposals may have.
Method
On Tuesday 28 January during Newcastle City Council’s consultation period, staff from Bus Users talked to passengers at Blackett Street bus stops and on board buses to and from Blackett Street.
The survey focused on the following key questions:
- Do you agree with the proposal to close Blackett Street?
- What is the reason for your answer?
We also asked people if they used the bus and what route they used, and we asked for their contact details. Between 10.30am and 2pm we spoke to 107 individuals and recorded our findings.
Findings
The chart below shows the percentage of people who were against the proposed bus ban, in favour of the proposed bus ban, or had no opinion.
Below are the comments made by people on the day of our survey.
| Bus Route | Comments made AGAINST the proposed bus ban |
| 62 | It will affect me greatly and push pollution to the perimeter of the city centre |
| 62/63 | More convenient to catch the bus in Blackett Street as I’m elderly |
| 39/40 | Better than the Metro Centre for shops |
| 62/63 | No comment given |
| 62/63 | Congestion will just move |
| 62/63 | Easier to get to work |
| 39/40 87 | Easier to get to the shop due to disability |
| 39/40 | Very central still, covered walkways and bus stops |
| 62/63 | Due to work it is less distance to travel |
| 62/63 | Why change what has always been? Handy with the way it is |
| 62/63 | Will make travel inconvenient |
| 39/40 | Will take longer to walk to the bus stops |
| 62/63 | Easier access |
| 62/63 | Easy access to the shops |
| 62/63 | No comment given |
| 62 | Didn’t know about the closure |
| 39/40 | Convenience |
| 39/40 | Easier |
| 40 | No comment given |
| 40 | Convenience |
| 39/40 | Easier access |
| Easier access | |
| 40 | Have to walk too far and it will be too crowded at the top, major inconvenience |
| 62 | At Christmas when they closed Blackett Street it was far too congested, thought it was a good idea previously but it does not work |
| 62 | What is it supposed to achieve? Nothing |
| x63 | Killing the city centre, people want to be in and out of town, does not suit work and shopping |
| x63/63 | Walk longer distance to Blackett Street. Is convenient, would make it harder for tourists and visitors |
| 36 | [Currently] easy to get to. It will be more congested, people will stop coming into the centre |
| 36 | Bad for older people and further to walk |
| 62/63 | Cause congestion elsewhere, currently easy access. Should have been widened years ago. Handy for elderly and disabled |
| 71 39/40 | Totally against it, having to walk miles to get the bus, Council only think of themselves |
| 36/39/40/x63 | Not necessary, waste of time, all buses here are connecting different areas |
| 12 | Distance to travel to get to the bus |
| 36/32/32a | Extra walk to alternative stops and road gridlocked with traffic and buses |
| 71 | Easier access from buses to shops when they operate into Blackett Street |
| 36/62/63 | Absolutely disgusting, Council should be sued, no consideration for the public |
| 71 | Traffic congestion, easier access to shops from Blackett Street |
| 71/71/87 | More convenient for shops, dreading it closing in the summer and Christmas |
| 12/36/63 | Further to walk, congestion on other roads, not enough space at Newark Street |
| 12/36/40 | Totally against it, cause congestion elsewhere |
| 12 | Easier to get to shops, less congestion |
| 12/39/40 | Convenience |
| 83/36/6263/39/40 | Why change something that is working? Don’t do to Blackett Street what they did to John Dobson Street |
| 71/72/87/62/63 | Congestion in other parts of the city, easier access to shops, shops could close down as a result |
| Wickhorn view | It’s ridiculous, bad enough at Christmas, walking around to new bus stop was too far for me and no shelter |
| 62/71 | Disgusting having to walk to Newgate Street, don’t see the benefit |
| 62/12/36/71 | Chaos, havoc, had to leave work early for Christmas, adds extra time, have to walk further, should stop cars not buses |
| 62/71 | One way instead of closed, when narrowed caused congestion, don’t agree that it would help with pollution, just pushes it elsewhere |
| Forest Hall | Don’t normally come to town, means longer walk and not good as I struggle with mobility |
| 62/63/100/x63 | Inconvenient, totally pointless to have fairground ride, hard to work and puts me off coming into town |
| 62/71 | Absolute chaos when closed, congestion increased, safety-wise Blackett Street is ideal especially at night, stop people coming into town especially with mobility issues |
| 62/63 | Inconvenient for people who can’t carry much stuff or walk far, nothing between Croft Street and Newgate, horrendous over Christmas |
| 12 | Harder to work, carry shopping, causes bus delays, should be kept open |
| 62/12/36/72/87 | Concerns due to mobility, elderly and disabled, will put us off from coming to town |
| 62/63/71/72/87 | Prefer Blackett Street to Newgate Street, higher risk, traffic and safety |
| 62 | Makes buses worse, congestion at Christmas, makes it harder with my job, wouldn’t come to town if they shut it |
| 62/63 | Too far to walk, increased congestion elsewhere in city, totally disgraceful |
| 39/40 | Alternative is not suitable for closure especially the elderly, stop other traffic |
| 39 | Convenient for shopping, too far for alternative bus stops |
| 62/63/39/40 | Disgusted with closure, stopped having weekly meetings and didn’t come into the city to shop |
| 39/40 | Disgrace, close the city down, will go to the Metro Centre |
| 62/63/39/40 | Disgusting, lack of thought for less able-bodied individuals |
| 39/40 | Blackett Street more convenient |
| 62/63/396/40 | Increased congestion elsewhere in the city centre, not convenient, moving problem for most people |
| 62/63 | New Bridge Street too far to walk |
| 12 | Too far to walk |
| 12/39/40 | Blackett Street is the best location |
| 12 | Good as it is, alternative too far |
| 39/40 | Congestion caused around the city during previous closures |
| 12 | Easy access to the shops, alternative is too far to walk |
| 39 | Alternative stops are inconvenient |
| 32/36 | Access to the shops/market is ideal, alternative route on Newgate Street causes congestion |
| 100 | Access issues |
| 100 | Problems with access |
| 62/63 | Alternative stops too far |
| Bus Route | Comments FOR the proposed bus ban |
| Killingsworth | Very much in favour, the road is dangerous, Northumberland Street works really well |
| 39/40 | Market street will get more people for the shops |
| 62/63 36 | For safety reasons as people don’t use the crossing |
| 62 | Bus stops in the centre and not placed properly, bus shelters should be farther out, better use of park and ride |
| 87 | The buses used to operate in Newgate street, so would not be bothered |
| 39 | Too dangerous between vehicles and pedestrians, no issues over Christmas when it was shut |
| 62 | To improve whole city centre, as extremely congested and polluted, they just need to do something decent with it not like Christmas |
| 71/32 | Don’t agree with current set up as very busy and accident waiting to happen |
| 22 | Much better for pedestrians, delivery vehicles, safer |
| 40/12 | Better at Newgate Street, Blackett Street too congested, other cars and lorries |
| 39/40/12/62/63 | Need to find better alternative to divert delays |
| 40 | Need to increase alternative stops |
| 12 | Better use as an entertainment space |
| Bus Route | No strong opinion on the proposed bus ban |
| 39 | Usually drive the car, it is in the garage |
| 39 | Doesn’t affect me |
| 71/87/72 | If some services reverted back to Newark Street would be happy but keep Blackett Street open to avoid congestion |
| 40 | Wouldn’t cause inconvenience for me |
| X88 all services | Doesn’t affect me |
| 63 | Handy to keep open for access to Eldon Square, doesn’t really affect me but can see people’s views why they don’t want it |
| 63 | Won’t change anything so not bothered |
| 62 | It could be better planned but won’t necessarily affect me |
| 63 | Use once in a blue moon |
| 62/63 | Newgate Street would be easier to catch bus for me |
| 63/12 | Newgate Street is close enough |
| 63 | Not bothered if it happened |
| 12 | Can understand why they want to, but it will cause issues for older people accessing shops |
| 12 | Will get used to the alternative |
| 39/40/30/31 | Travel to college so use other areas of the city |
| 39/40 | Walk to other stops, less cars, city is dangerous, Percy Street for bikes |
Conclusion
The majority of people who have spoken to Bus Users about a bus ban on Blackett Street are against the proposal, and have very specific reasons for holding that view.
As a result of this feedback, we feel strongly that the proposal will have a significant, negative impact on passengers and on the surrounding area.
Accessible transport benefits individuals and local economies, and reduces congestion and pollution. For these reasons we would urge Newcastle City Council to reconsider this proposal and allow buses to continue to use Blackett Street.
About Bus Users
Bus Users campaigns for inclusive, accessible transport. We are the only approved Alternative Dispute Resolution Body for the bus and coach industry and the designated body for handling complaints under the Passenger Rights in Bus and Coach Legislation. We are also part of a Sustainable Transport Alliance, a group working to promote the benefits of public, shared and active travel.
Alongside our complaints work we investigate and monitor services and work with operators and transport providers to improve services for everyone. We run events, carry out research, respond to consultations, speak at government select committees and take part in industry events to make sure the voice of the passenger is heard.
Bus Users UK Charitable Trust Ltd is a registered charity (1178677 and SC049144) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (04635458).
Bus Users UK
Victoria Charity Centre
11 Belgrave Road
London SW1V 1RB
Tel: 03000 111 0001
enquiries@bususers.org
www.bususers.org