Traffic-consultant spending claims inaccurate, council says

The Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme in Jesmond was ended in February

A council has hit out at what it says are "inaccurate" claims it wasted money on consultants for traffic schemes that were later scrapped.

The Conservative Party attacked Labour-led Newcastle City Council last week for allegedly spending “vast sums of money” on consultants for Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) measures in areas such as Jesmond and Fenham.

The project in Jesmond was brought to an end in February following 11 months of debate while Fenham's was axed last September.

Bollards which block drivers from using some residential streets in Heaton will also be removed after 23 April.

Council bosses say no funds were spent on consultancy services relating to any LTNs across the city.

A Freedom of Information request found the local authority spent more than £1.2m on transport consultants in 2022-23 - a figure almost £1m more than during the previous year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Standard practice'

However, the council said that was at least partly down to experts being needed for the planning of the city’s Clean Air Zone and repair work for the Tyne Bridge.

The Jesmond LTN was found to be unpopular with some residents

A spokesperson said: "Out of the £1.2m quoted, spend on consultancy services relating to Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes, such as Jesmond, was zero.

"Consultancy services were primarily used for major transport projects, which required specialist knowledge and expertise, and is standard practice for local authorities.

"This included the restoration of the Tyne Bridge and the Clean Air Zone which was introduced in 2023."

'Significant increase'

LTNs are used to discourage motor vehicles from being used in specific neighbourhoods.

The Conservative Party issued a press release last week claiming there had been a “significant increase over the past three years” in the council's use of external consultants in transport services.

It claimed the bill had jumped from £180,927 in 2020-21 to £269,472 in 2021-22 and then £1.26m in 2022-23.

It alleged the authority had “spent millions on transport consultants – despite scrapping projects just months later”, referring to the recent removal of the LTNs in Jesmond and Fenham.

The Conservative Party has been contacted for a response.