Road to better fan safety

STREETS ARE SET TO SHUT

ROADS around St James’ Park will be closed for longer on match days from this weekend.

Trial closures after games were introduced 15 months ago to improve safety for fans.

Now, after listening to supporters, Newcastle City Council has decided to close stretches of some streets before kick-off as well.

Following consultation with the fans forum, Newcastle United and Northumbria Police, the multiagency safety advisory group has decided to extend the closure period to the start of the game as fans make their way into the stadium.

The new arrangements will come into force tomorrow, when Newcastle United take on Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Cabinet Member for the Environment Coun Nick Kemp, said: “The safety of football fans on match day has been, and always will be, our paramount priority.

“We introduced these measures on a trial period more than a year ago so we could monitor the effects and listen to fans.

“It is clear many fans wanted the closure before the game as well as after the game, so we have decided to bring in this change.”

Car parks will remain open as normal on match days but motorists may have to change their access route to some of them nearest the ground.

Leazes Terrace, Strawberry Place between the junction with Barrack Road and the Strawberry public house and Strawberry Lane at the junction with Strawberry Place will close one hour before the match.

Strawberry Place at the junction with Leazes Park Road, Leazes Park Road between Percy Street and Strawberry Place junctions and Terrace Place will close around an hour after the start of the match.

The roads will remain shut until around 30 minutes after full time.