As the completion of the new Government building on New Bridge Street nears the public realm surrounding the development is starting to take shape.
Images on hoardings around the building site, as well as in material advertising the new commercial spaces, all show New Bridge Street and Blackett Street as smart, calm places, full of people walking, cycling and just enjoying the experience that being on a city street free of vehicles can bring.
In conjunction with the Newcastle branch of the North East Public Transport Users Group we recently wrote to Cllr Juna Sathian, Cabinet member for Climate and Transport, and Pamela Holmes, Assistant Director Transport at Newcastle City Council, to urge them work towards making New Bridge Street and Blackett Street match the vision that has been sold to residents of the city for the past few years while the new development has been constructed.
Our joint letter is below. Responding to being asked about the letter by the Local Democracy Reporting Service in the Evening Chronicle to the council said that the plans for a redesign of Blackett Street remain on hold, but could be revisited in the future. You can read the full article here.
Dear Cllr Sathian and Ms Holmes,
We are writing on behalf of the North East Public Transport Users Group (NEPTUG) and Newcastle Cycling Campaign (NewCycling) to urge you to seize the opportunity afforded by the conclusion of development work on the new HMRC offices to transform Newcastle city centre. As discussed in our recent meeting with you and NEPTUG at the Tyneside Irish Centre, we strongly believe that the imminent arrival of 7000 jobs in the centre of our city gives a real imperative to reallocate space away from motorised traffic towards those walking, wheeling, or cycling.
The attached photos, displayed on the hoardings around the construction site, demonstrate the kind of transformational improvement to the public realm that could be delivered at this key location.
Pedestrianising Blackett Street and removing motor vehicles, including buses, from the top of Pilgrim Street and New Bridge Street could greatly improve the safety of the many thousands of workers, shoppers, and visitors exploring this part of the city, and open up access to the East Pilgrim Street development by sustainable means. The area at the bottom of Northumberland Street, outside of Northern Goldsmiths and the new office building could be used to create, as per the attached photographs, a new ‘Pilgrim Plaza’ with trees, seating, and space for people to enjoy the city’s fine architecture. The vital east-west cycle link along Blackett Street (the only viable east-west route through the city centre and part of the LCWIP) could be maintained.
Removing buses from Blackett Street would vasty improve public safety and air quality in this location, as well as allowing the redevlopment of Old Eldon Square into another attractive traffic-free public space. Given the continual disregard for the traffic restrictions on Blackett Street by private vehicles and taxis, this would ensure the safety of pedestrians and allow people to enjoy the space around Grey’s Monument without fear of being run over.
Clearly an issue of concern for public transport users, particularly those with limited mobility, is the displacement of cross-city bus services from Blackett Street to other stops in the city centre. We believe, however, that a review of bus stop locations and strategic reallocation around the alternative ‘bus loop’ could actually bring passengers closer to key destinations like The Gate, Chinatown, Grainger Market, the Theatre Royal, Laing Art Gallery, and City Library (and of course the HMRC offices). This would require some reallocation of road space and widening of pavements but this could be achieved if through traffic is removed from streets like Market Street and Grainger Street where there are no car parking locations.
We believe this is an opportunity to bring together stakeholders in the city (including urban design experts, businesses, disability representatives, cultural organisations, and our own groups) to develop a bold vision for the centre of Newcastle. This could trial a new forum to aid inclusive decision-making and develop a vision that all stakeholders can support. Stakeholders could work together to explore alternatives, e.g. a free electric minibus supported by NE1 Business Improvement District to maintain access to the area for those with mobility issues.
Obviousy time is short as kerblines are being reinstated on New Bridge Street as we speak. Acting now will avoid expensive miss-steps and allow the work to continue on from the completion of Northumberland Street’s transformation, straight across Blackett Street and down Pilgrim Street, rolling out a new vision for Newcastle to support businesses and improve our visitor experience.
We look forward to your response and hope to meet with you to discuss this issue further.
Alistair Ford
Newcastle Branch Chair (NEPTUG)
Mark Nelson
Chair, Newcastle Cycling Campaign