A petition highlighting the benefits of the proposed Option 1 for Acorn Road has been submitted to Newcastle City Council.

Shehla Naqvi, organiser of the pro-change Acorn Road petition, told JesmondLocal she speaks on behalf of residents who are “deeply concerned” that recent controversy surrounding the stretch will damage the progress which has already been made.

Naqvi, who stood for election as the Green Party candidate in August’s North Jesmond by-election, pointed out that her campaign is “not attached to any political party or allegiance”, but is solely made up of residents and frequent users of Acorn Road. She emphasised the “essence of this is that it comes from local people”, including a wide range of individuals: the elderly, parents, businesspeople and academics who all use the road for both shopping and leisure.

The petition is in part a response to a similar petition submitted to the council, which opposes the outcome of a preliminary consultation of the future of the road, organised by North Jesmond Lib Dem councillor Peter Breakey, signed by around 1,250 people.

Naqvi commented that many residents are “shocked and aghast at the campaign led by a local councillor”.

She added that “it feels absolutely bizarre that he’s managed to polarise the very community that the improvements in Acorn Road are supposed to benefit”. She highlighted that her petition wishes to create some dialogue with both the Acorn Road Working Group and Councillor Breakey in a “very calm” way, urging councillors to “work together for the common good” in order to “benefit the whole community.”

In light of this, Naqvi has emailed a number of members at Newcastle City Council a copy of the petition, which to date has been signed by just over 400 people, and has also outlined concerns of residents and users of Acorn Road who are in favour of the change.

In the covering letter to the council, Naqvi writes that “the current debate is being monopolised by those who would like to see more parking and further discussion about reducing parking is being stifled. As a consequence the original vision to improve the quality of life and well being for pedestrians, cyclists and traders feels potentially damaged.

“An elected member who lives in Larkspur Terrace has used his position as a councillor to distribute consultation letters, lobby businesses, and conduct a one sided public meeting to further his own views.”

Naqvi told JesmondLocal that she has been “inundated with support” from North and South Jesmond, particularly residents living in Larkspur Terrace and Sanderson Road. She added that some of the responses she has received have been “heartbreaking”, as people in their eighties recall the street as an “active, buzzing little environment” which has now become “horribly congested”.

She went on to explain that “they can’t understand how we could be in danger of losing some important funding to improve the landscape”. Naqvi finished by adding “it’s something we need to stop and sort out quickly,” as she is concerned that due to anti-Option 1 petitions, “we’re in danger of completely losing focus […] which would stop any kind of improvement”.