Campaigners say there has been a huge increase in traffic accidents and are calling for changes on Gosforth High Street following the removal of the controversial bollards last year
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In the wake of a "dramatic" spike in injuries from traffic accidents, activists have demanded that Gosforth High Street be redesigned. Controversial rows of bollards put in 2020 have caused significant disagreements about the high street's layout in recent years.
After being called unattractive and confusing by some, the much-discussed bollards were removed a little over a year ago. However, Newcastle City Council is now being pressured to reconfigure the route. Readers have expressed their concerns about the proposed changes to the busy road in our comments section.
The advocacy group SPACE for Gosforth has pushed council officials to reinstate a single lane of traffic on the high street in both directions. The group has pointed out that, according to data from the North East Road User Casualties Dashboard, there were nine people injured on the high street from April 2023 to February 2024 – compared to a yearly average of 3.4 from 2014 to 2023. They go on to say that “since the trial bus lane was installed, the number of people injured in traffic collisions has increased dramatically.”
MRTIMPSON agrees with SPACE: “Total joke, Gossy high street is a permanent traffic jam because of the lane restrictions - get rid of the cycle lane, get it back to 2 lanes, and let the traffic flow.” Mick83 says: “Get it back to the way it was 2 lanes and get the bridge back open as well.”
Dunstonian wants to see the road returned to its original state: "Should just go back to what it was in the past 2 lanes in each direction; it was actually safer then because people took more care of their surroundings when travelling or walking. Buses could still stop in the nearside lane to let people on and off."
Theenglishtaxidriver doesn’t agree: ”How does making it one lane in each direction reduce pollution? It will cause more congestion and more pollution while vehicles stand idle during peak times. You will never stop people using their cars!”
PayYourRoadTax writes: “Maybe if motorists stuck to the 20mph speed limit and obeyed the rules of the road such as red lights and no right turn then we’d have less incidents. But, as always, drivers are more important than any other human beings.”
PierreLike says: “The road markings are 'too busy'. Vehicles staying in lanes are moved right then left then right again. What might work better could be more coordinated traffic lights, to keep the traffic flowing for longer periods.” whitleybeyonce thinks the Council should: “Make it taxis, buses, emergency services and bicycles only.”
The council confirmed that the bus lane trial would continue while managers "develop plans for engaging with local people on the future of this high street" and responded that it was "committed to improving road safety, creating better public transport links and encouraging active travel around the Gosforth High Street area."
How do you think the safety of the High Street should be maintained? Have your say in our comments section below.
Gosforth High Street 'permanent traffic jam' slammed amid shakeup call
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29.04.2024
Campaigners say there has been a huge increase in traffic accidents and are calling for changes on Gosforth High Street following the removal of the controversial bollards last year
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In the wake of a "dramatic" spike in injuries from traffic accidents, activists have demanded that Gosforth High Street be redesigned. Controversial rows of bollards put in 2020 have caused significant disagreements about the high street's layout in recent years.
After being called unattractive and confusing by some, the much-discussed bollards were removed a little over a year ago. However, Newcastle........
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