The Chronicle

Call for an end to ‘hiatus’ over bridge closures

- By DANIEL HOLLAND Local democracy reporter daniel.holland@reachplc.com

OPPOSITION councillor­s have called for an end to the “hiatus” over a series of controvers­ial bridge closures in Newcastle.

City council chiefs have banned vehicles from using Salters Bridge in Gosforth; Castle Farm Road Bridge next to Jesmond Dene; Haldane Bridge in Jesmond; the Argyle Street Bridge near Manors Metro station; and Stoneyhurs­t Bridge in South Gosforth since last August.

The project, imposed as a means of reducing alleged rat-running through residentia­l streets, was introduced as an experiment that could theoretica­lly last up to 18 months.

Newcastle City Council said earlier this year that a decision on whether to make the change permanent would be made after the recent local elections.

The city’s Liberal Democrat opposition has now demanded clarity on the situation, especially after the authority’s Labour transport chief Arlene Ainsley lost her seat on the council.

The divisive bridge closures have sparked fury among some residents, who claim the move was unnecessar­y, has increased congestion, and has been particular­ly harmful to the disabled and elderly.

Supporters, however, say that the traffic bans have made the residentia­l areas safer for walkers and cyclists, as well as cutting noise and air pollution.

Newcastle’s Lib Dems said that the “current hiatus needs to be resolved” and urged the council to “make a prompt statement of its intentions”. Opposition transport spokespers­on Coun Greg Stone added: “A deliberate decision was taken by the council leadership to delay the bridge closure decision in advance of the pre-election purdah period, knowing it would be controvers­ial in a number of wards, and the transport cabinet member unsuccessf­ully sought to switch seats.

“It would be a cop-out to continue to delay a decision for weeks or months while a new transport cabinet member is appointed. People living in the communitie­s affected by the closures deserve clarity.”

Council leader Nick Forbes, who has survived a post-elections leadership challenge, responded: “We had clear manifesto commitment­s that the public gave their support and confidence to last week.

“This sits alongside our bold and ambitious plans for our city, which includes a new £50m vision for the city centre and commitment to creating great places to live with clean, green and safe communitie­s, which the closure of bridges to traffic contribute­s to.

“We are looking at all the evidence and submission­s. The last thing that residents want us to do is make decisions without fully considerin­g the impact on local communitie­s.

“A new cabinet lead will be announced in due course.”

A Newcastle City Council spokespers­on confirmed: “Due to the unique characteri­stics of each location and our findings, every bridge will be reviewed on its own merits, with five separate decisions made. We expect this all to be completed in the summer.”

 ??  ?? Stoneyhurs­t Bridge in South Gosforth
Stoneyhurs­t Bridge in South Gosforth

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