The closure of Haldane Bridge to motor vehicles has been hailed a success by a local cycling and pedestrian campaign group which wants to make Jesmond a “low-traffic neighbourhood”.

According to SPACE for Jesmond’s Ed Smith, the bridge which connects Haldane Terrace to Osborne Road, is “really quite dangerous”. He said: “It has very narrow footways on either side, it’s got a flared road-end at the Osborne Road side and it’s got poor visibility. It would not meet modern design standards by any measure.”

The group had petitioned unsuccessfully in February 2019 for the bridge to be closed. However, Smith says he now believes that “the council are increasingly committed to enabling cycling and walking in Newcastle. It’s great to see that they’ve taken on board feedback that we’ve given previously.”

Not all Jesmond residents are in support of the change. Jennifer Wilson told JesmondLocal she believed the closure of Haldane Bridge would lead to more traffic on Clayton Road which runs parallel to Haldane Terrace.

Another resident, Erin Hope-Hume, said: “I think closing the bridge has made the nearby streets more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians and it will cause hold-ups and problems for drivers too.” Hope-Hume said she was disappointed the closure had been introduced with little public consultation.

Space for Jesmond was set up two years ago and campaigns to make Jesmond a low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN). LTNs – initiatited by councils but funded by central government – are usually residential roads in which bollards, planters or other barriers reduce through-traffic. Pavement widening and other measures are often introduced to make these streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists as well as reduce air and noise pollution.

“Motor traffic can be restricted without causing the huge level of inconvenience that people think it will do,” said Smith, who says the group has submitted further ideas to Newcastle City Council. “Preventing traffic with a few bollards means it’s safer for children to cycle to school or even play in the street again and reduces car use for short trips which people can easily walk or cycle.”

“The potential benefits for physical and mental health are enormous, particularly at this time when we are so dependent on our streets for social life and exercise,” commented Newcastle Cycling Campaign chair Sally Watson. “LTNs create space for community life by allowing children to play safely and neighbours of all ages to meet, chat and support each other.”

A recent report in the Sunday Times highlighted official DVLA statistics that show car ownership in Jesmond has fallen 58% over the last decade – the seventh biggest decrease in England.

Fiona Clarke, who has lived in Jesmond for much of her life, welcomes the changes. “Noise and air pollution is a problem and many drivers don’t respect the speed limit,” she said. “There does seem to be a trend for lower car ownership in Jesmond, although I’m sceptical about whether this is just because many student cars are registered at their home addresses rather than here.”

People aged 60 years and older have the highest share of car ownership, according to a 2017 Statistica survey. But opinion in Jesmond on car ownership is mixed. “Transport is a necessity and as a student, I think it’s important to have buses and cars to have enough access to the area,” Kalen Neilson told JesmondLocal. “It’s especially important considering some students have moved here from afar and will need vehicles to drive into the area for visiting purposes.”

Residents who wish to object to or support the possibility of the Haldane Bridge changes being made permanent, can send their comments or representation by 15th February 2021 to Newcastle Parking Services, PO Box 2BL, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 2BL, or by email to traffic.notices@newcastle.gov.uk quoting reference GH/P44/1258