In an attempt for Newcastle to become a greener city, plans have been put forward to make Grey Street a car-free zone.
Grey Street is a popular high street running from Monument and through the city centre. Destinations on the street includes the architecturally beautiful Theatre Royal as well as the buzzing restaurants and bars. It has previously been voted to be the best street in the UK by BBC Radio 4 listeners.
A BBC article published the listener's opinions, including how many voters suggested Grey Street was one of the greatest streets in "England if not Europe" and how "one described coming up the steps from the Metro every morning and being 'filled with joy at the sight of the street unfolding'."
The city's Labour leader Nick Forbes has recently informed the public of proposals to pedestrianise this buzzing street in order to reduce emissions in the centre of Newcastle and ultimately take steps towards a greener city.
He told a council meeting “Grey Street is often talked about as one of the most beautiful streets in England, I think it is one of the most beautiful car parks. I would like to be able to pedestrianise it over time." Adding that the council is "unpicking" the work done to redesign the city in favour of cars, which took place in the 1960s and 70s.
“Grey Street is often talked about as one of the most beautiful streets in England, I think it is one of the most beautiful car parks. I would like to be able to pedestrianise it over time."
Nick Forbes
Despite these plans being publicised, Forbes noted that a permanent closure will not be possible until new arrangements regarding road routes and bus routes have been established. This can not be done until the government publishes an abjudication on what changes the council needs to make to infamous bus lane signs in John Dobson Street.
A tweet posted by @crowfather states “Newcastle city centre needs to be a car free zone simply banning traffic is not enough this requires planning and investment and a massively improved free to use clean public transport system #bbcpoliticsnorth”
So far, a large part of Grainger Street is a traffic-free zone and there are plans for Blackett Street to follow suit.
