This new measure has been pretty polarising, with many residents and road users being fairly furious about it. Next time you’re around Jesmond, notice the red ‘Unblock Jesmond’ posters in shop windows. The detractors do have legitimate concerns, but creating an LTN here does actually have a lot going for it. Jesmond is known to be one of the nicest areas of Newcastle, but at rush and school hours, it doesn’t seem that way. The area would be chock a block with cars and their dirty exhaust fumes and loud noises, barely moving anyway, and people thronging on pavements. Add in any type of roadworks and the chaos just multiplies. Basically, it was noisy, chaotic, overwhelming, and just unpleasant.
In comparison, similar areas that are much less traffic heavy, like Sandyford, are like an oasis of calm – at all times. Sandyford’s got everything that Jesmond has – small businesses, schools, locals, students – except it’s nice to be in, 24/7. This is due to its layout; Sandyford is much less susceptible to congestion. Obviously, you can’t just go about demolishing and rebuilding whole neighbourhoods (and East Jesmond has a cool layout anyway), but what you can do, like has been done successfully in other areas of Newcastle and cities across the country, is create an LTN.
There are benefits that you can't hear or see too
And honestly, the difference is incredible. Going down Osborne Avenue feels like a peaceful Sunday morning no matter when you go. It’s nicer for pedestrians, and children are safer and can play in the street. There are benefits that you can’t hear or see too: less traffic means less pollution (physical and noise), making you mentally and physically healthier, and of course, since short journeys now require going all the way round, it encourages walking and cycle, which is good for people and the planet. This was the council’s rationale, and for the most part, I think it’s worked.
That said, the scheme hasn’t been executed perfectly. Leaving a few roads still unblocked means that instead of taking the hint and going the long way round, cars have been rat racing down particularly Grosvenor Road and a few others, meaning that these particular streets are more polluted, congested and dangerous than ever. So when residents complain about “discrimination”, this is totally fair. But the solution isn’t to get rid of the LTN, instead it’s to go the whole way and block all the connecting roads off. Then literally only residents and necessary car journeys will be inclined to use it. The road signs could also be better; drivers get confused and think they can’t access Cradlewell at all, which is obviously damaging to local businesses.
But that’s the beauty of an 18-month trial period, which is what the LTN is. There’ll be a consultation opportunity where the council will take the criticism into consideration and build on this. One thing to note is that you have to give it time; it takes a while to adapt when there’s a change in something you’re used to.
The fact remains that it’s fundamentally a good idea. A large proportion of residents in this area are students anyway, who for the most part don’t use their cars that much, so won’t be greatly affected - and when you are affected, the detour will barely add five minutes to your journey. It’s not like Jesmond is incompatible with an LTN; in fact, Jesmond is extremely walkable. Streets connecting to Jesmond Dene Road further up, like Lindisfarne and Reid Park Road, in pretty much the same situation as the LTN, have been closed for a long time without an issue. Of course, there’s never going to be a perfect solution; and for sure, I’m biased because I’m a pedestrian who doesn’t live there, just uses the roads frequently. People’s concerns are legitimate, but a lot of good will come from it.
