Gosforth’s high street plans are still in the works, nearly five years after the bollard debate started. What’s next for this busy area?
Newcastle: The plans to revamp Gosforth High Street are still being worked on. It’s been almost five years since the whole bollard situation kicked off.
The council is still figuring out what the future holds for the high street. It all started back in 2020 when they put up those controversial bollards. They wanted to make more room for cyclists and pedestrians.
But those bollards didn’t last long. People found them ugly and confusing, so they were taken down. A bus lane took their place in March 2023. Even though the bus lane is now permanent, folks are still unhappy. They say it’s made things more dangerous and hasn’t really helped the high street feel lively.
When the bus lane was confirmed, local transport leaders said it was just the first step in the redesign. But since then, there’s been no word on what’s next. Councillor Peter Lovatt from Fawdon and West Gosforth expressed frustration last week. He said instead of being a fun destination, the high street feels like just a bus route now.
At a recent council meeting, he pointed out that residents were excited about changes, but nothing seems to be happening. He asked, “What’s the point of consulting if nothing gets done?” It’s a fair question.
The Labour-run council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they plan to share new ideas soon. A spokesperson mentioned they’re taking a phased approach to improve road safety and transport links in the area.
They said the first phase was all about making the bus lane permanent to help with bus reliability. Now, they’re looking into more options for the high street, including ways to encourage walking and cycling.
They promise to share these plans with locals in the coming weeks. It sounds like they want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard as they move forward.
