Who Are We?

The South Heaton terraces were built in the late 1800s and Heaton Park View was completed in the 1930s. These streets were never designed for widespread motor vehicle use.

Already by 1972, Council officers were noting persistent complaints about traffic levels on Heaton Park View, Warwick Street, and Heaton Park Road, and that congestion on these roads displaced traffic onto “adjoining unsuitable residential streets”.

For over half a century, South Heaton residents have campaigned to make their streets safer and less polluted, and have worked successfully with the Council on many occasions to address these problems. Our plan for Heaton’s Cleaner, Greener Streets are part of this long history of adaptation and modernisation.

1964

Play streets first introduced in Tosson Terrace, Warton Terrace and Trewhitt Road in Heaton and in streets between Shields Road and railway, including Chapman Street (now demolished) following complaints about traffic danger.

Beatrice Road parents’ request for play street is turned down.

1965

Play streets introduced in ‘Railway Terraces’ in Heaton following complaints about traffic.

Parents in Beatrice Road again complain about traffic danger to children. Newcastle City Council proposes road closure but Minister for Transport, Barbara Castle refuses to agree to this.

Following complaints from Chapman Street residents about traffic in their play street this street is closed to through traffic.

1967

Council proposes to close Ouseburn Road following complaints about traffic but this is not implemented.

1968

Powers for local authorities to close roads for amenity purposes in existing residential areas are included in legislation for the first time in the Transport Act 1968.

Seventh to Tenth Avenues in Heaton made into play streets following complaints about traffic and parking.

1971

Proposal for General Improvement Area (GIA) in Heaton approved by Planning Committee. Bounded by Chillingham Road, First Avenue, Guildford Place, Heaton Road and Back Meldon Terrace. Architects Barnett Winskell appointed as consultants to design schemes to reduce traffic and improve the environment. Committee meeting notes that residents complain that there is too much traffic and a lack of places for children to play.

1972

In response to complaints from local residents, the Council closes Mundella Terrace, blocking a through route for drivers which stretches from the City Stadium to Chillingham Road.

Council’s Development, Planning, and Highways Committee notes that congestion on Heaton Park View, Warwick Street, and Heaton Park Road was causing traffic displacement to “adjoining unsuitable residential streets”, and that this had “been a cause of local complaint for some time”.

1973

Road closures in Heaton GIA approved, including First, Seventh and Eighth Avenues, King John Terrace, Balmoral Terrace, Roxburgh Place.

Back lanes added to the play street traffic orders already confirmed in Heaton following complaints about traffic using these lanes.

1975

Residents of Warwick Street, Stratford Road, Heaton Park Road, and Hotspur Street successfully petition the Council to close residential streets and back lanes surrounding the junction of Warwick Street and Heaton Park Road, which are being used by motorists to dodge the junction.

Residents of Stratford Rd, Stratford Grove and surrounding streets ask the Council to deal with the increasing volume of through traffic – and in particular heavy goods vehicles – in the direction of Ouseburn Road. The Council prohibits vehicles heavier than 7.5 tonnes on Stratford Grove Terrace.

 488 local residents petition the Council for a zebra crossing at the junction of Heaton Park Road and Cardigan Terrace.

 

Residents of Heaton Park View, Shaftesbury Grove, and Tintern Crescent are “concerned at the use of Heaton Park View by motorists as a short-cut to town”, and petition the Council “to provide an alternative route away from the residential area.”

 The Heaton Residents’ Association objects to a Council proposal to remove Play Street protections between Chillingham Road and Heaton Road, insisting that they keep children safe and deter rat-runners. The Play Streets remain to this day. 

The Council installs bollards and a traffic island at the south-east entrance of Heaton Park to protect pedestrians crossing the increasingly busy Heaton Park View.

1984

50 Meldon Terrace residents petitioned to have their road closed to through traffic expressing safety concerns about children and older people after a series of ‘hit and run’ incidents including one eight year old child who was knocked over by a driver.

1994

20 mph speed limit first introduced in Heaton - one of the first areas in the country to receive this treatment

2016

A zebra crossing is installed on Heaton Park Road - over 40 years after it was first requested.

As part of a range of changes to protect pedestrians and promote cycling on Heaton Rd, the Council closes the junction of Stannington Avenue to motor vehicles.

2020

Closure of Tintern Crescent

2022 

Following consultation with residents, the Council closes Wandsworth Road and Mowbray Street to through-traffic, and builds a parallel crossing for pedestrians and cyclists over Heaton Park Road. This crossing is particularly beneficial for schoolchildren travelling to and from Hotspur Primary School.

Following consultation with residents, the Council closes South View West at the junction with Elizabeth Street, removing a rat-run used by drivers to dodge the Shields Road / Byker Bypass roundabouts.

Sources: Records of Newcastle City Council held by Tyne & Wear Archives (ref MD.NC) - courtesy of Dr Sally Watson; Traffic Regulation Orders [DATES]; Streets for People project website.