Category Archives: Safety

1000 Speeding Drivers – A typical day on Gosforth’s back streets

Even at 20mph 17% of adults are killed or seriously injured when hit by a car. For children or older residents the figures will be worse. Why then do so many ignore the 20mph speed limits in place throughout Gosforth’s back streets? Walking to school should not be an extreme sport. This is the story of three of Gosforth’s back streets. One has a low volume of traffic mostly driving within the speed limit, somewhere we all might like to live and where children might reasonably be left to play Read more [...]

Billion Pound Issues on Gosforth High Street

We are all familiar with thinking about the environmental and health aspects of traffic - congestion, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, accidents, physical inactivity - but what about the economics, the actual costs of these things in pounds? And how do these negative impacts affect Gosforth High Street, as these are the issues that the soon-to-be-announced proposals for the High Street need to fix? In 2009 the UK government calculated the negative impact of transport on the UK economy Read more [...]

Station Road: SPACE meets Cllr Gallagher to discuss members’ concerns about parking plans

On Monday evening, three SPACE for Gosforth members met Councillor Henry Gallagher (who represents East Gosforth Ward) at Station Road. The meeting was organised at very short notice due to safety concerns raised by SPACE members relating to proposals for Station Road.  A member of the infrastructure team from local cycling campaign group Newcycling was also able to attend to discuss issues relating to cycling. SPACE members have concerns about these proposals however because Station Road, Read more [...]

Lots of children want to cycle to school, but hardly any do. How do we make space for child cycling in Gosforth?

Imagine you are a child waking up on Boxing Day in Gosforth - yesterday you received the most wonderful Christmas present, a beautiful, shiny new bicycle.  In your head, you are Sir Bradley Wiggins setting the hour record or Lizzie Armistead winning the rainbow jersey.  But there is one problem.  Where is there space in Gosforth for a child to ride? A generation ago it was a common sight to see children riding in the street - and many parents are still nostalgic about riding their Read more [...]

Broadway to Brunton Lane | Consultation Review

Judging by the 78 responses to the ‘Broadway to Brunton Lane’ consultation most people agree with the aims of the scheme, not least the prospect of a cycle lane safe for children to use, though there are a few details to work through. This is a summary of what people said. As we said in our previous article here the current road layout is poor for those walking and cycling. Comments reflected this. “I don't think most people realise just what an awful road this is now if you are Read more [...]

Everything wrong with our High Street starts here

I live close to the High Street and can typically walk its length and back in about 15 minutes, on a sunny Wednesday a few weeks ago it took me about an hour. I didn't stop at the shops or get a coffee.  No, I was blindfolded by a nice gentleman called David, accompanied by my new pal Hazel.  They weren't leading me to an execution or a surprise although both transpired in a sense later on.  David is a volunteer Guide for the Guide Dogs charity and Hazel volunteers for RNIB, Guide Dogs and Read more [...]

Broadway to Brunton Lane – Comments by 21 December 2015

Newcastle City Council has announced a consultation for new cycle lanes and other improvements to the Great North Road between Broadway and Brunton Lane, and is asking residents and visitors to provide comments on their proposals. Currently this is a busy dual carriageway with frequent buses and fast-moving traffic: it is hard for pedestrians to cross and is largely unsuited to all but the bravest of cyclists.  It is also the single main route into Brunton Park, Melton Park and the other Read more [...]

Newcastle City North – Comments required by Sunday 8 November

Newcastle City Council are proposing improvements for the north of the city centre and are asking residents and visitors to provide comments on their proposals. The amount of traffic going into the city centre directly affects how much traffic we see (and how much pollution we breathe) on Gosforth’s streets. Providing safe and attractive alternatives in the city centre, such as improved cycling facilities or more reliable public transport, should also help reduce traffic and pollution in Gosforth. SPACE Read more [...]

20 mph – the right speed for Gosforth’s children

If we want the High Street to thrive as a family destination and the businesses to prosper, then we need to make the High Street a safe environment where parents are happy to window shop with their children.  A 20 mph limit from Salters Road to the Town Moor would be the first step in making Gosforth High Street as family friendly as its businesses. The sheer quantity and quality of destinations for children on and around Gosforth High Street is amazing. There are places children regularly Read more [...]