Dear Sue,

We have looked at and given a view on your concerns in a separate blog here:
https://www.spaceforgosforth.com/stoneyhurst-bridge-review-of-concerns/

You are entitled to your opinion of course. Many would equally say it is selfish, possibly even morally indefensible, to prioritise saving a few minutes on an occasional journey compared to someone else’s health and wellbeing.

Name-calling won’t help anyone though. We’re presenting facts and evidence as a way of having a better more informed discussion. You are free to disagree if you wish of course.

We hope most people will approach the changes with an open mind and weigh up the relative pros and cons once they have experienced the changes for themselves for a few months.

I have an 88 year old friend in Sandringham Rd who cannot walk far so he has a car. This allows him to go to Northumberland from time to time to have some fresh air outside the area. He would NOT be able to go there on a bike.
Would you deny him this simple pleasure?

I have another friend who is disabled in the same street so she needs a taxi as she cannot walk far. Both are very upset by the thought of Stoneyhurst Rd Bridge being closed to cars as it offers easy access to the doctor’s in the Grove, Northumberland and many other places. They are both concerned about being stopped from using the traffic lights from the Grove to Church Road as the exits from Sandringham, Audley or Windsor are not the safest ways to get out of the area as they are single track.
Worse still, the exit onto Haddrick’s Mill Rd from Dene Crescent is lethal in winter even with the grit box. Haddrick’s Mill Road is a fast road where turning right is positively dangerous.
Would you want either of them to risk their lives in this way?

My friend who is disabled has a limited budget & could be housebound if the taxi cannot travel directly to the doctor’s as potentially the fare will be higher as the taxi sits in a traffic jam in Sandringham Rd caused by the closure of the Stoneyhurst Rd Bridge.
Would you deny her the use of a taxi at an affordable amount to get to the doctor’s or to facilities in Gosforth?

Are you really so selfish that you cannot see that there is “room for everyone” on tStoneyhurst Road Bridge?

Moreover, you have been misinformed about the effect of more traffic using Audley, Sandringham, Windsor & Balmoral. Queues will cause pollution to my friends in these streets. Is that what you want?

The Stoneyhurst Bridge plan has been executed in a very underhand way with NO CONSULTATION whatsoever except with a select group of cyclists.

I hasten to add that if my husband is unavailable to take me on the tandem, I will have to walk or catch the metro or bus. I am happy to do this as I am fit enough at present.

Therefore, I feel that it is selfish & morally indefensible to close a bridge which is a lifeline for many people & allows emergency vehicles to reach our area easily.

As a long time tandem rider, I look forward to your reply. Sue Smith

Thanks for the comment. It’s a fairly obvious point but if it is very dangerous for drivers (as you say) enclosed in a hi tech vehicle with anti-crash devices, then it must be much worse for children and families walking who have to cross that road, and will exclude a lot of people from cycling. Protecting other people from harm shouldn’t be seen as a burden. It’s a basic responsibility of any decent society.

The one-way system is an interesting idea but is unlikely to cut the number of vehicles using the street.

Closing the Stoneyhurst Bridge will only benefit residents who live next to the bridge, as they will use it as their parking. So, parking on bridge and within 10 metre of any intersection should be banned first to reduce congestion and improve driving condition. Also a one-way system should be adopted for Stoneyhurst Bridge and surrounding roads (Balmoral, Audley, Windsor, Sandringham, Ilford Road) to cut down traffic to half.

Hi James, No mistake. I’ve just emailed you the screenshot so you can see for yourself.

It’s probably fair to expect it will vary a bit. I’ve just tried it again now (7am Saturday morning so I presume no traffic) and it’s saying 7 minutes for both, and that’s with Haddricks Mill roadworks still in place.

Hi – and thanks for your comment.

Salters Lane was turned into a dual carriageway by North Tyneside Council. If you have complaints about what they have done it would be best addressed to them. Certainly we would agree about the need to reduce dangerous speeding. Perhaps you could also contact Northumbria Police if you haven’t already?

Your point about behaviours I can’t really comment on as I don’t know specifics but generally in the highway code it is for the person entering or exiting a driveway to give way to passing traffic, whether that is people walking, cycling or driving.

I’ve also done a quick google maps directions search from where you live to the junction of Broadway West to Kingston Park Road. It suggests the quickest driving route is via Haddricks Mill taking 9 minutes. Driving via Hollywood Avenue is 10 minutes. Cycling via Heathery Lane is 11 minutes. Routes north, south and east aren’t changing and Killingworth Road roadworks are complete so you might even find journeys by car are quicker in future if you have previously been using Hollywood Avenue?