Council to conduct further consultations on Acorn Road proposals

Dec 06, 2014 by ClaireHawthorn in Business

Newcastle City Council intends to conduct further consultations with Jesmond residents about the Acorn Road proposals as a council spokesperson said that “no formal decisions have yet been taken on Acorn Road.”

In her response to local MP Nick Brown, whose letter to the Chief Executive JesmondLocal published last month, council Chief Executive Pat Ritchie writes that “the consultation that took place between 1st and 21st September was informal” saying they were “ keen to ensure that we are able to reflect the needs of the community in the next phase of design.”

The design taken forward will continue to be Option 1, as voted for in a consultation of residents earlier this year, the results of which and the method by which it was carried out has caused widespread arguments amongst a divided community.

“Once we have a completed design,” Ritchie continues, “a statutory consultation process will begin to alter traffic regulation orders as required to develop the proposals. This provides an additional opportunity for all stake holders to raise any concerns with the proposal.”

Deadline question partly answered

Despite work to begin the transformation of Acorn Road being rumoured to start as early as next month, it has been revealed that the scheme will likely not be completed until September 2015. It would appear that plans have progressed to a further design stage, during which Ritchie reveals that the project’s engineers “have been working to maximise the benefits of the scheme and minimise its impacts.”

“Significant progress has been made to develop the scheme in response to the concerns raised during consultation. It appears that the main concern was the proposed loss of up to 10 on-street parking spaces, although questions were also raised about road safety, consultation and evaluation. Our engineers have been working to maximise the benefits of the scheme and minimise its impacts. As such we have sought to minimise the reduction in on-street parking as far as possible. It now appears that the scheme will result in the loss of up to three on-street parking spaces. It may be possible to reduce this further as we develop the design.”

Parking spaces reduced slightly

Later figures supplied by the council and circulated to Jesmond residents shows that the reduction in parking spaces may be even smaller: there is currently space for 33 cars on the street; a modified version of Option 1 could retain 32 spaces.

Ritchie also notes that “Council officers are currently meeting retailers and other stakeholders to discuss their concerns” having confirmed that the council has indeed received a number of petitions, letters and emails both in favour of and against the Option 1 proposal, something a council spokesperson confirmed to JesmondLocal yesterday afternoon.

In an update sent today to those of his constituents who had raised concerns, Brown wrote:

“Since writing this letter I have also raised the matter with the Leader of the Council and with the Chief Executive in person. I also visited Acorn Road last week and called in on some of the local businesses there to talk to them about their views.”

“It is clear that there are genuine concerns about the consultation process to date. I have received representations from a large number of residents, some of which are in support of the redevelopment proposals, others which are opposed. It appears that there is a degree of uncertainty about the proposals and what happens next.”

Consultation area discussion leaked

In her letter, Pat Ritchie states that “ahead of the consultation, discussions were held with ward members in North and South Jesmond. The Assistant Director of Development, in conjunction with members, decided that only residents for North Jesmond would be consulted on the proposals.” Today JesmondLocal exclusively uncovers leaked emails from April 2014 showing in part how that decision was reached amongst local councillors.

In firm support of his constituents’ concerns over the voting process Brown has made it clear that he will be ensuring that all residents, in both north and south wards will have their say in any future consultation:

“Given the unsatisfactory nature of the previous consultation, I would hope that any future consultation will be undertaken comprehensively and give both North and South Jesmond residents the chance to have their say. In light of this, I intend to write back to the Chief Executive urging that this is the case and that every effort is made to ensure residents have any proposal properly explained to them, that they are aware of any upcoming consultation and that they have enough time to have their say. I will also stress that the consultation exercise is not used as an excuse to delay a decision on these proposals so that the money is lost.”

Brown today gave the following official statement to JesmondLocal:

“I have received a reply to my last letter about Acorn Road from the Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council. I have written to constituents setting out the latest position as I understand it.

The Chief Executive’s letter to me confirms:

There will be a further consultation. This is necessitated by the need for the Council to make a Traffic Regulation Order under the Road Traffic regulations to implement the Council’s preferred scheme (Option 1).
The previous consultation is regarded by the Council as having been ‘informal’.
Council Officers are trying to adjust the proposal to meet the concerns of objectors, particularly around the issue of the number of parking spaces which will be lost.

I am today putting the Chief Executive’s letter to me and my letter to constituents in the public domain.”