Low traffic neighbourhood to be axed

The LTN in Heaton has been in place since 2022

A low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in a city suburb is be scrapped.

Bollards which block drivers from using some residential streets in Heaton, Newcastle, will be removed after 23 April, council officials said.

The LTN, which has been in place since October 2022 as part of a trial, saw too many vehicles being rerouted to other residential areas rather than main roads.

But one councillor called the move “retrograde”.

The decision leaves just one of the latest set of LTNs remaining in Newcastle, after bollards in South Gosforth were made permanent in January.

A scheme in Fenham was removed in September and one in Jesmond was axed in February.

Previous bridge closures-turned-LTNs remain at locations including Haldane Bridge.

'Safety risks'

Newcastle City Council said it had collected traffic data as part of the Heaton LTN trial which showed 700 vehicles were using the back lanes of Heaton Park Road, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“This creates a number of road safety risks as these lanes are not designed for, or expected to carry, this level of through traffic,” a spokesperson said.

“There was also no data to suggest that there had been a significant shift to walking and cycling during the trial.”

But Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Cookson said he wanted to see the LTN modified instead of completely removed.

He said: “If you were to open Heaton Park View up to through traffic again it would be a completely retrograde step.

"We were getting 3,000 vehicles a day along there and I could easily see that increasing.”

The Labour-led local authority said it had engaged with Heaton residents on other traffic options for the area, including the re-opening of Heaton Park View or closing every through-route between Heaton Road and Heaton Park Road

"[This] conversation will continue and we will use the feedback we have received to help shape revised proposals for Heaton which we will consult with residents on in due course,” the council said.