Drivers have been warned of major road restrictions in place for more than a year after a local council unveiled plans to create safer streets.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce new red route restrictions on major bus routes in the city centre as part of an 18-month trial.
The plans were aimed at tackling dangerous and obstructive parking, which the council warned is causing delays for buses and creating risks for pedestrians.
Restrictions will cover two main routes and are expected to come into force in the coming months, the council detailed.
The first red route will be on Blackett Street, running from the Monument towards Pilgrim Street, which has been identified as a particular problem due to parked cars and other vehicles blocking the view of pedestrians trying to cross the street.
Newcastle City Council said they can also make it harder for bus drivers to see clearly while travelling through the area.
A second red route will cover a longer stretch of road. It will run along Newgate Street, through Grainger Street, past the bottom of Westgate Road and continue along Neville Street, beyond Newcastle Central Station.
The council explained that the two routes are among the busiest used by buses in the city centre, adding that vehicles stopping or parking illegally have regularly caused congestion and disrupted public transport.
The popular road will be subject to a new red route to help tackle congestion
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NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
Councillor Peter Lovatt, the council‘s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Local Services, said the trial was designed to improve traffic and public transport and “keep our city moving and ensure we have reliable public transport“.
He added: “Many people use the city’s bus network and it’s not acceptable for these services to be experiencing delays due to inconsiderate parking or vehicles stopping at the side of the road, which causes congestion and prevents traffic from flowing.
“We are reminding people that they must use designated parking spaces or loading bays instead of pulling up at the side of the road.”
Red routes are put in place to keep roads clear | GETTY
Under the new rules, most drivers will not be allowed to stop for any reason, although licensed Hackney taxis will be allowed to stop to pick up or drop off passengers.
Vehicles displaying a Blue Badge will also be allowed to stop when picking up or dropping off a disabled person.
On Blackett Street, a layby on the left-hand side of the road, just beyond the Pilgrim Street junction, will be converted into a dedicated loading bay.
Existing loading bays along the second red route, between Newgate Street and Neville Street, will remain available.
Drivers can be issued fines for parking along red routes in the city | READING COUNCIL
Drivers who break the new restrictions could receive a Penalty Charge Notice, as enforcement will begin as soon as the red routes become operational.
A public consultation will also take place during the first six months of the trial, with the council considering feedback alongside its own assessment of the red routes.
Restrictions could be changed, made permanent or scrapped altogether, depending on the results of the trial.
The council has not yet given an exact date for when the red routes will begin, although it is expected to launch within the coming months.