Why was the decision made to remove the road closures at the end of the trial? The main reason we are removing the closures is due to traffic increases on other neighbouring residential streets including Brand Avenue, Sutherland Avenue, Severus Road, Queensway (south of Alder Avenue) and Kingsway (at its junction with Fenham Hall Drive). Despite significant reductions in traffic for people living next to the closures on Nuns Moor Road and the northern end of Queensway and Kingsway, traffic using other residential streets increased. Traffic count data suggests that through traffic is using other residential routes rather than staying on the main road network of Fenham Hall Drive, Wingrove Road and Hadrian Road. What evidence was there to support this decision? Traffic surveys have been carried out at several intervals during the duration of the trial (in April/May 2022, September/October 2022, and July 2023), at a range of locations in the area. Surveys were also carried out before the trial to provide baseline data in July 2021, September 2021, and March 2022. The surveys have consistently shown increased traffic onto residential streets. •	Queensway (south of Alder Avenue) saw a 154.25% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 706 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 1795 (Post-LTN, Sep 2022). •	Sutherland Avenue saw an 59.41% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 446 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 711 (Post-LTN, Sep 2022). •	Severus Road saw a 14.78% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 555 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 637 (Post-LTN, July 2023). •	Brand Avenue saw an average weekday count of 1065 vehicles after LTN measures. It is understood that this is a significant increase comparing to other adjacent streets. •	Kingsway (at its junction with Fenham Hall Drive) saw a 14.44% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 478 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 547 (Post-LTN, September 2022). What did feedback from the formal consultation say? The formal consultation ran for the first six months of the trial. Over 500 opinions were expressed during the consultation period, via written correspondence, Commonplace contributions, and Let’s Talk Newcastle. Most respondents believed the measures should not be made permanent; and that they had not made the area safer, cleaner, and greener. Via the Commonplace website: -	61% opposed making the Kingsway/Queensway closure permanent. -	68% opposed making the Gowland Avenue and Nuns Moor Road closures permanent. Via written correspondence: -	44% were critical; 42% supportive; and 14% neutral. Will traffic surveys continue to monitor the area? Yes. Further traffic surveys will be undertaken in the area to help with future proposals. The next traffic count is planned for late September 2023. What will be done now about speeding, parking and traffic safety issues? As well as counting volume, traffic counters also collect speed information so that problem areas can be identified. Immediate concerns about speeding should be reported to Northumbria Police, who are responsible for enforcing the speed limit. To report parking issues, contact Parking Services at the council on 0191 277 7799 or email parking.cs@newcastle.gov.uk What will be done now about peak-time issues with school and mosque traffic? We are aware of the issues in the area with peak-time traffic. We will continue to investigate these issues using our traffic survey data, consultation feedback and by listening to residents. We will look at solutions to these issues with residents, as part of the next stage of proposals for the area. There were other permanent schemes planned, will these still go ahead? Other permanent schemes including those announced at the same time as the trial, will continue later this year. These will be permanent Traffic Regulation Orders, so consultation will take place before implementation: -	A school crossing for Hadrian Road. -	Traffic calming on Wingrove Road and Wingrove Avenue. -	Yellow lines at the junction of Bourne Avenue and Fowberry Crescent. In addition, the following work will take place soon to deter speeding: -	The junction tightening at Bolbec Road and Cedar Road will be installed and bollards removed. -	Additional junction tightening at Gowland Avenue (at the Cedar Road and Hadrian Road junctions). What will happen next?  We plan to start discussions with residents about future potential proposals to deal with traffic issues this Autumn. However, the earliest any future schemes could be implemented would be Summer 2024. How do we get involved? We will write to you again with dates for future meetings. You can also email the transport team if you have any questions at neighbourhoods@newcastle.gov.uk Do sign up to the Commonplace website for updates at safefenhamtrials.commonplace.is

FAQs – Fenham Neighbourhood Low Traffic Zone 

A trial to reduce traffic cutting through local streets in Fenham ends on 8 September and will not be made permanent. Several streets were closed to through traffic in March 2022 as part of an 18-month trial scheme to reduce the volume of traffic using local streets by rerouting through traffic on to more appropriate routes. Using Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, public consultation ran within the first six months of the scheme being installed. With the trial period due to end in the coming days, the council has reviewed the scheme, alongside data collected and feedback from the public, and decided that the traffic changes will not be made permanent due to the displacement of traffic on residential streets. The measures to close the junction of Queensway and Kingsway to through traffic, as well as Gowland Avenue and Nuns Moor Road, near to the junctions with Bolbec Road and Cedar Road will be removed by 7 September. Having the closures in place has seen significant reductions in traffic for people living next to them on Nuns Moor Road and the north end of Queensway and Kingsway. Data from the trial shows that while the main road network of Fenham Hall Drive, Wingrove Road and Hadrian Road have all seen an overall intended increase in vehicle usage, traffic counts suggest that through traffic is using alternative residential routes to access these streets rather than remaining on them. This has resulted in an increase in traffic on to neighbouring streets including Queensway (south of Alder Avenue), Kingsway (at its junction with Fenham Hall Drive), Brand Avenue, Severus Road and Sutherland Avenue. Cllr Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected, clean city said: “We’re committed to creating cleaner, greener and safer neighbourhoods and reducing the volume of traffic cutting through local streets is an important part in achieving this. “Fenham was the first area of the city to pilot a neighbourhood low traffic zone trial and we haven’t seen enough evidence to keep it in place, particularly with the displacement of traffic on to what should be quiet residential streets, rather than rerouting onto the main roads. “As we have said many times, these schemes are trials which are really important as they allow us to try the changes in local areas and see what works for people living in the zone. “We also know that some people will be disappointed, but we’ve taken a lot of learning from the scheme, and we have a good basis for refining a future scheme by listening to residents and looking at the data in more detail. “It is also important to note, that each neighbourhood low traffic zone is unique, as we use the data we collect alongside feedback from the public consultation, in deciding on the long-term future of individual schemes.” Other permanent measures including those announced at the same time as the trial, will continue later this year. This includes a school crossing for Hadrian Road, traffic calming on Wingrove Road and Wingrove Avenue, and yellow lines at the junction of Bourne Avenue and Fowberry Crescent. In addition, the junction tightening at Bolbec Road and Cedar Road will be made permanent; alongside further junction tightening for Gowland Avenue (at the Cedar Road and Hadrian Road junctions) to deter speeding. The council will remove the closures at Kingsway/Queensway, Gowland Avenue and Nuns Moor Road by 7 September. Traffic counters will remain in place. This traffic data and discussions with residents will inform new proposals for the area, which could be installed in Summer of 2024. Headline figures include from the data reveal: •	Significant reduction in vehicular traffic adjacent to the closures on Queensway, Kingsway, and Nuns Moor Road. •	Nuns Moor Road saw an 80.46% decrease in average weekday vehicle count from 2,032 vehicles (Pre-closure, March 2022) to 397 (Post-closure, Sep 2022). •	Kingsway / Queensway (close to its closure) saw an 83.7% decrease in average weekday count from around 847 vehicles (Pre-closure, March 2022) to around 138 (Post-closure, Sep 2022). •	Reduced traffic levels on Cypress Avenue because of the Kingsway/Queensway closure. •	Cypress Avenue saw a 20% decrease in average weekday count from around 2,000 vehicles (Pre-closure, March 2022) to around 1,600 (Post-closure, Sep 2022). •	Increased levels of displaced traffic using alternative residential streets such as Queensway (south of Alder Avenue), Kingsway (at its junction with Fenham Hall Drive), Brand Avenue, Severus Road and Sutherland Avenue. •	Queensway (south of Alder Avenue) saw a 154.25% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 706 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 1795 (Post-LTN, Sep 2022). •	Sutherland Avenue saw an 59.41% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 446 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 711 (Post-LTN, Sep 2022). •	Severus Road saw a 14.78% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 555 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 637 (Post-LTN, July 2023). •	Brand Avenue saw an average weekday count of 1065 vehicles after LTN measures. It is understood that this is a significant increase comparing to other adjacent streets. •	Kingsway (at its junction with Fenham Hall Drive) saw a 14.44% increase in average weekday vehicle count from 478 vehicles (Pre- LTN, March 2022) to 547 (Post-LTN, September 2022). •	The closures have resulted in little impact on Bolbec Road with traffic levels consistent with pre-implementation data. You can also read our FAQs <a href="https://safefenhamtrials.commonplace.is/en-GB/news/faqs-%E2%80%93-fenham-neighbourhood-low-traffic-zone">here</a> <a href="https://safefenhamtrials.commonplace.is/en-GB/news/faqs-%E2%80%93-fenham-neighbourhood-low-traffic-zone"></a>You can read the Delegated Decision <a href="https://democracy.newcastle.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=12889">here</a>

Fenham neighbourhood low traffic zone trial to end

Reminder – last few days to have your say on the public consultation for the low traffic neighbourhood trial in Fenham. Public consultation closes on Sunday 11 September.

Last few days to have your say

We're trialling some changes that will reduce the amount of traffic cutting through Fenham.
With less traffic cutting through, neighbourhood streets can become safer and more attractive places for the people who live there. These changes would give children more space to play, and encourages more people to walk and cycle on local journeys.

Public consultation on these changes runs from 7 March 2022 to 11 September 2022.

Fenham Phase 2 - Making changes in your area to create safer, cleaner and greener neighbourhoods

Safe Fenham Trials

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