The LTN, which used bollards to limit vehicle access to certain residential streets, had been implemented as a trial since October 2022. However, concerns about increased traffic on main roads prompted officials to abandon the initiative.
The City Council stated, "A major concern was the discovery of over 700 vehicles per day using the back lanes on Heaton Park Road. This poses significant road safety risks, as these lanes are not designed or equipped to handle such high volumes of through traffic."
This marks the third LTN removal in the city, following similar actions taken this year in Fenham and Jesmond areas, raising questions about the effectiveness of low-traffic neighborhoods.
It has been two months since the streets reopened in the Jesmond area of Newcastle. Initially, more than 23,000 residents responded to the consultation, with up to 77% voting for removal. However, it remains uncertain whether this decision has had the intended impact.
One of the main criticisms of LTNs is their potential to displace traffic from one area to another, a situation evident in Jesmond. Even though the closure of streets such as Manor House Road, Buston Terrace, and Akenside Terrace, etc. reduced traffic there, high congestion was observed at Jesmond Road crossroad.
Data monitoring revealed that certain residents encountered traffic jams, leading to "extended journey times." Additionally, local businesses reported that it had adversely "affected their trade," stated City Council.
Consequently, these streets were reopened on February 5th, highlighting the authorities' recognition of the need to address traffic flow challenges. However, opinions are divided about whether the reopening has truly helped, raising questions about whether a similar scenario might unfold in Heaton as well.
"Finally, I am able to pick people up within a few minutes“ Uber driver Kamal (36) is constating his positive feedback, while driver Amir (47) is sharing he's always stuck in traffic jams when driving home from work. He added: “closing the streets would never solve anything, the problem is how many cars are here in general”
Local resident Andrew (32) voices his dissatisfaction, stating that the removal had "zero effect on the main road." Despite noticing a slight increase in traffic on his street, he says: "When I cycle through the main road, it's as busy as before."
Andrea (26) one of the residents of the reopened street, said: "To be honest, I don't understand the fuss about whether it's closed or not. They removed the barriers from my street, and nothing has changed.“ She advises the council to rather "install more pedestrian crossings“ to ensure safety amidst the traffic.
Some citizens of Newcastle living in different parts of the city see the LTNs as a "waste of money“ remarks one of them and adds: "They closed the streets due to complaints, and now they've reopened them due to more complaints."
Whether the LTN removal improves traffic in the streets of Heaton will become evident in the coming weeks. While challenges persist and opinions vary, there's a collective hope for the best possible outcomes for both Heaton and Jesmond's futures.