Comments on: Air Quality Update 2017

By: P

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 14:57:58 +0000

I agree with Paul Roberts. the so called improvements to the Salters rd junction with the high st are a failure,they’ve just created congestion & increased air pollution,now that you can’t turn right into Salters rd from the high st causes more problems,narrower resedential streets have become rat runs, to get home from ASDA at Regent centre i now have to cut through Regent farm estate to Wansbeck rd to get onto Kenton rd,adding more time & aggravation i don’t need. on the issue with air pollution & the high st,solution is to reduce the number of Arriva buses,they could be diverted by making them turn right at the Blue house roundabout,or spread the stops,they cause congestion by arriving in bunches at the now one bus stop near Sainsburys Northbound

By: Paul Bennison

Paul Bennison — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:13:39 +0000

This makes interesting reading. I’m pretty sure that NCC are saying that things have slightly improved since 2016 except in a few locations, which when adjusted for distance to nearest exposure, are still over 40, which have been worth highlighting by various parties elsewhere including SPACE. I would like to see sites where combined NO2 and PM readings are taken and also readings taken just outside any AQMA’s in actual residential areas, as there is no surprise that “In the City of Newcastle, the main pollutant of concern is NO2, with the primary source being from road vehicle exhaust”, when the monitoring sites are next to roads. Let’s monitor AQ everywhere.
There also appears to be a major seasonal effect with numbers over winter generally higher. Why? With higher average winter winds, could this be an increase in background NO2 blowing in (vehicles but also residential heating/wood burners), or just a 20 – 60 % increase in traffic? Will the 60% NOx increase from Newcastle airport by 2035 have an (minor) impact in future?
Furthermore use the attached to add various Gosforth GNR postcodes and see what comes up https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42566393 It all seems hunky dory! Whilst this article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40726868 is in the other direction. Both one could suggest are misleading.
With regards their AQ action plan this is a bit of a half-cocked attempt at saying ‘we’re doing something’ whilst not really doing anything much. Too many actions which are being considered, not yet implemented, to be reviewed, unable to be actioned, hopes and aspirations. It recognises that public transport and in particular the Metro help to reduce air pollution, however they have no control over it, so the Nexus reduction in Feb 2017 of nearly 25% of peak train from Regents Centre in/out of town and then a further recent 11% reduction in Sept 2018 of those remaining, doesn’t help. See @My_Metro for daily updates of overcrowded peak trains, cancelled trains, long waits etc etc. This will only force many people in the medium term to use another method of daily transport that they believe they can control. A additional good point has already been made re NCC’s Alive after 5 free parking which go against some of the listed actions. So more action please, with NCC at least using their existing powers to enforce, more modern, integrated and cheaper public transport, better park and ride provision, bus contracts, etc etc. OK, how about an elected major with additional powers with regards planning and transport for starters!

By: E

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:39:04 +0000

Rather than making it harder for people from the villages to come to Gosforth High Street it would make more sense for all the new buses to be electric (like in many other cities) – I’m not sure why in Newcastle they still introduce new diesel ones.

Ref the yellow lines I was of the understanding that it is not actually illegal to drop off, pick up, or load, unload. Hence why huge lorries delivering crates of drinks to the front of the restaurants do not get in trouble. However I was told once that if you feel they are there an ‘excessive’ amount of time to report it (but really any stopping in the left lane causes real problems especially for cyclists).

By: SPACE for Gosforth

SPACE for Gosforth — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:31:13 +0000

In reply to Stewart Falconer.

Hi Stewart,
Do you mean the express buses? They all stop on Gosforth High Street though only at selected stops. I’ve been told by some of the local shop-keepers that quite a lot of people use them to visit the High Street.
It is likely that the Newcastle pollution plan due at the end of this year will include some retrofitting to improve emissions from older buses. This is certainly welcome.

By: Paul Roberts

Paul Roberts — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:53:03 +0000

As someone who lives on the High Street end of Woodbine Road this is a particular worry for me. The change of the junction at Salters Road/ High Street has been all about speeding up the flow of traffic through the junction, with the possible spin off that it would reduce air pollution by improving that flow. In both cases it has proved a failure and changes to junctions and crossings have made it more frustrating and dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. The granting of planning permission for yet more houses to the North will lead to even more traffic on the HIgh Street . All in all a spend of loads of dosh to achieve no desirable ends.
I agree that it would be better if many of the X buses terminated at the Regent Centre and were linked in by Metro and/or electric buses to the Haymarket.

By: Stewart Falconer

Stewart Falconer — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 12:17:43 +0000

Very easy solution stop all buses (not stopping in Gosforth) to use a different route
All buses for the city centre or the coast to stop at Regent centre-transfer to metro
Stop all illegal stopping on double yellows on the high street – wardens are very enthusiastic to book drivers who are 10 minutes over time in car parks or side streets – but ignore motorists stopping on the high street – which reduces it to one lane