Radical redesign of major Newcastle street on way
A RADICAL redesign of Newcastle’s most iconic street will start this week.
Grey Street is set to undergo a major transformation to remove most of its parking spaces, install a new cycle lane, and allow extra space for pedestrians and pavement cafes.
The changes are part of temporary coronavirus response measures to allow for safe social distancing across the city - but Newcastle City Council will set out plans for permanent alterations to Grey Street next year as it seeks to make the city centre a cleaner, greener environment.
Work will begin tomorrow and council bosses have pledged to do “everything we can” to protect the beauty of what was once voted the best street in the UK.
The majority of Grey Street’s onstreet parking bays will be removed, though a “limited number” will be retained on the east side of the street and some reserved for disabled blue badge holders.
To allow pavement space to be extended into the road, traffic will be restricted to southbound only. A new northbound cycle lane will be installed.
The works will involve concrete blocks and barriers being brought in, but the council has promised to also use planters and wooden cladding to make the changes less ugly.
Civic centre officials say that further modifications will be made later this year, including the potential for canopies and outdoor heaters to be erected so that pavement cafes can stay open during winter, and that the permanent measures to be set out next year will “be based on the temporary measures being introduced now and will reflect feedback from people”.
Coun Arlene Ainsley, the council’s cabinet member for transport and air quality, said: “The view down Grey Street is simply stunning and, although we need to use temporary materials at first, we are going to be doing everything we can to ensure the beauty of the street is maintained. We’ve been working closely with NE1 and local businesses to ensure that the layout and appearance of the changes we’re making are appropriate and we look forward to seeing businesses being able to use the new space for pavement cafes and outdoor space for their customers.
“We have already seen a series of successful changes to our transport network to enable people to get around safely as the city starts to reopen, including improved opportunities to walk and cycle.
“We have prioritised our main retail areas, including Northumberland Street and Blackett Street, and we are continuing to monitor these measures and make changes in response to feedback to ensure they are working effectively.
“We will be looking at how these short term changes could help us deliver our longer term ambitions for a cleaner and healthier city centre with a greener transport network and reduced pollution.”
The council has redesigned its new cycling facilities on Queen Victoria Road near the Royal Victoria Infirmary, meaning there is now a one-way cycle lane on both sides of the road.
Similar changes are also due to take place in busy shopping areas outside the city centre including Chillingham Road and Gosforth high street, while the council has also announced plans to ban traffic from using a number of ‘rat run’ bridges including Salters Bridge in Gosforth.