Safer Heaton Low Traffic Neighbourhood Removal Confirmed

It has been confirmed by the Council that they have caved in and are going to remove the Heaton Low Traffic Neighbourhood. This is not being done for the people of Heaton but for the political expediency that drove the dismantling of the Jesmond LTN - a vocal minority, many of whom do not live in the area, complaining about what they see as their right to drive through other people's neighbourhoods just because they always have done.

This will result in the return of 3,000 cars a day passing between Heaton and the largest green space in the area; this will impact how children can get to the park, their safety on the way to school, the very things that LTNs are designed to improve. The removal of the scheme will also reintroduce nearly 1,000 cars a day to Falmouth Road and 1,600 on Cardigan Terrace. We do not think this is right, and we will campaign to have a properly implemented LTN that removes the use of Heaton Park View to non-local traffic, and prevents the rat running in the back lanes caused by the ill thought out scheme the council put in place which left Heaton permeable to transiting traffic.

Despite lip service to replacing the current Experimental Traffic Reduction Order (ETRO) with consultation on 2 options (details here - PDF) the failure to put in place anything ready for the time the ETRO expired shows a lack of planning and commitment from the council, and left the residents with a result that nobody wanted.

There is a useful overview of the data from the closures and their effects here:

https://www.spaceforheaton.com/how-have-heatons-streets-changed/

If you agree with us:

1) Please email Nick Kemp (the leader of the council: nick.kemp@newcastle.gov.uk) and Marion Williams (Head of Transport: marion.williams@newcastle.gov.uk). They are the ones who will make this decision.

2) There is an election coming. Ask each candidate what their position is on this topic. Do they support re-opening these quiet streets to huge volumes of through-traffic? Explain that their position on this will affect how you vote.

If you want to contact your own councillor, their details can be found here.