The council is proposing changes to Fenham Hall Drive between Grandstand Road and Two Ball Lonnen that could see the street becoming much safer for cycling. Proposals include 1.5km of protected cycle lane and better crossing points.

Read the full details and see all the plans at https://new.newcastle.gov.uk/travel/improvements/fenhamhalldrive

The consultation is running until 11:59pm on Sunday 15 March.

You can find our response below.

Newcastle Cycling Campaign’s thoughts on Fenham Hall Drive

Newcastle Cycling Campaign welcomes the proposals to make Fenham Hall Drive safer and more attractive for everyone, particularly those travelling to school. Whether walking, wheeling or cycling, these proposals will make it easier to access schools, the library, GP’s, busses and local shops. It is proven that the reason many people don’t cycle, particularly women and children, is because they are frightened of motor traffic – creating a segregated cycle lane will encourage more people to cycle, with all the consequential physical and mental health benefits, and it’s also good for the planet. We hope that plans like these can be replicated across the city and create a unified cycling network for Newcastle. We have some specific comments on the proposals:

1. Cycle parking at the library – there are currently six stands which are too close to the wall. The plans show cycle parking in an improved location and we would hope with more stands.
2. Cycle parking at the swimming pool – there are currently three stands outside the pool which are not indicated on the plans. Although the pool is closed these are of use for those visiting the doctor’s surgery next door, which has minimal cycle parking facilities itself.
3. Cycle parking at the Convent Road junction shops – there are currently some stands outside these shops, which aren’t indicated on the plans. We presume these stands will be retained.
4. Cycle parking at the shops between Cherryburn Garden and Auburn Road – there are currently some stands outside these shops, which aren’t indicated on the plans. We presume these stands will be retained.
5. Pedestrian crossing east of Cherryburn Gardens – this new pedestrian crossing is welcomed. We suggest the crossing would be better located directly opposite the shops on Fenham Hall Drive and to be a combined pedestrian and cycle crossing, so people using the cycle lane can safely access the shops.
6. Side roads – it is very encouraging to see the cycle lane given priority over side roads along Fenham Hall Drive, with raised tables to slow traffic entering and exiting Fenham Hall Drive via these side roads. This will increase safety and enhance the experience of using the cycle lane, and encourage more people to do so.
7. We note, however, that Bolbec Road, Kingsway and Middlewood Park junctions do not have raised tables and suggest that, particularly in relation to Bolbec Road and Middlewood Park, as these junctions cross the cycle lane, this is inconsistent and that there should be raised tables, for the reasons outlined in 6. above.
8. Wingrove Road traffic lights – we presume that this will have a cyclist only phase that will allow cyclists access to cross the junction, from either direction of Fenham Hall Drive and Wingrove Road, into and out of the cycle lane. Additionally, in order for people cycling to have confidence in the traffic lights, the cyclist only phase should occur in every cycle of the lights, otherwise there is a risk cyclists will think the lights are broken and ignore them.
9. Two Ball Lonnen – we note that the junction with Two Ball Lonnen and beyond is to be part of a separate scheme, which we welcome. However, as currently shown in the plans there is no safe way for cyclists to enter the Fenham Hall Drive cycle lane if they are coming from Netherby Drive or Two Ball Lonnen, which creates a significant risk. We suggest that a similar junction layout and traffic light sequence as proposed for the Wingrove Road junction would alleviate this problem.
10. 10.Grandstand Road – we note that the junction with Grandstand Road and beyond is to be part of a separate scheme, which we welcome. However for now these proposals will need to integrate with the existing cycle paths at this junction, where they cross Grandstand Road, particularly so that those travelling down Fenham Hall Drive towards Grandstand Road have a safe means of exit from the new cycle lane.

These comments address some of the detail. We welcome and applaud the proposal

Let the council know you support safer cycling

If you like the look of the plans for Fenham Hall Drive let the council know. It only takes a minute to drop the a quick email showing support and that you want to see more of this sort of thing.

If you live, work or visit Newcastle, showing your support for positive changes like this helps towards getting a better network of safe cycling routes build across the city.