Three-hour wait to exit car park
TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO BE REVIEWED BY COUNCIL
TRAFFIC lights near a Newcastle city centre car park will be reviewed after drivers waited for more than three hours.
Newcastle City Council is going to monitor signals on Durant Road in a bid to improve the traffic flow around the NCP John Dobson Street Car Park.
It comes after motorists claimed they waited more than three hours to get out of the car park on Saturday night, with queues back to the 12th floor.
The delays have been put down to a number of issues including increased visitor numbers for the Christmas Market, poor weather, road works and the closure of the Metro.
A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: “Last weekend roads around the most popular city centre car parks were particularly busy due to a number of factors including the poor weather, emergency gasworks on Stowell Street and a line closure on the Metro, which meant more people chose to drive.
“We are also reviewing the time phasing of the traffic signals on Durant Road, between the Central Motorway and John Dobson Street, with the aim of improving the traffic flow in this area, and we will have staff on standby this weekend to take manual control of the traffic lights if necessary.
“We also urge drivers not to park inconsiderately or to block exits as these too were contributing factors to the congestion.”
The spokesperson added: “Christmas is a hugely important time for Newcastle. With the increased visitors the markets are bringing and a full festive programme including the ice rink at the Life Science Centre, the Grainger Market and the Fenwick window, the city will certainly establish itself as a major festive destination.
“It is inevitable that the city’s roads will be busier, especially as Christmas gets closer.”
The council is encouraging people to use public transport, to use lesser-known car parks in the city centre, or to park at the edge of the city and walk in.
Bumper crowds have been visiting the Christmas Market, the council has said, as it aims to rival markets at York, Edinburgh and Manchester.
Michelle Percy, Director of Place, Newcastle City Council, said they are delighted at how well be market has been received.
She added: “Our vision was to introduce a much-improved and better-quality market into the city centre, something that will encourage more people to visit, both those from the city and from further afield. So, it is fantastic to see the city centre so alive. One local retailer commented that he hadn’t seen it so busy since the 1980s.”