District shopping centres - helping people shop safe and shop local

UPDATE

UPDATE: Removal of social distancing measures – Adelaide Terrace

We recently introduced a set of measures designed to help people socially distance whilst using the shops on Adelaide Terrace

These measures were introduced temporarily to gauge their effectiveness and acceptance.

Whilst they are useful in separating pedestrians they were not widely adhered to and have been moved regularly. As the guidance on social distancing has changed much faster than we anticipated the scheme has been reviewed. 

Having listened to residents and businesses and in conjunction with your councillors we have decided to remove the temporary social distancing measures.

However, it must be noted that the social distancing measures were designed in accordance with government guidelines and they may be reintroduced in the event of rising infection rates or a localised outbreak of COVID 19 cases. 

In such circumstances the City Council may have to re-introduce the measures with materials that cannot be so easily removed.

UPDATE: Removal of social distancing measures – West Road

We recently introduced a set of measures designed to help people socially distance whilst using the shops on West Road

These measures were introduced temporarily to gauge their effectiveness and acceptance.

Whilst they are useful in separating pedestrians they were not widely adhered to and have been moved regularly. As the guidance on social distancing has changed much faster than we anticipated the scheme has been reviewed. 

Having listened to residents and businesses and in conjunction with your councillors we have decided to remove the temporary social distancing measures.

However, it must be noted that the social distancing measures were designed in accordance with government guidelines and they may be reintroduced in the event of rising infection rates or a localised outbreak of COVID 19 cases. 

In such circumstances the City Council may have to re-introduce the measures with materials that cannot be so easily removed.

UPDATE - revised social distancing measures – Chillingham Road

We plan to introduce a set of measures designed to help people stay apart while using the shops and services on Chillingham Road. Similar measures have already been put in place temporarily in other locations to gauge their effectiveness and acceptance.

Since designing the initial proposals, the guidance on social distancing has been amended and people must also now wear face masks in certain circumstances. Considering this, along with comments received through our online consultation site, and through your local councillors, we have reviewed our proposals and will be putting in place measures that are not exactly the same as those we showed in the consultation.

Having listened to residents and businesses and in conjunction with your councillors we have decided to reduce the numbers of parking spaces we were intending to remove. For much of its length through the shopping centre, Chillingham Road already benefits from wider pavements than many in the city. Where this is not the case (for example in the small block of shops just south of Simonside Terrace on the east side of the road) we will still remove parking to provide wider footways. In addition, closures at Chillingham Road of Trewhitt Road and Tosson Terrace will be implemented, but only on the west side of the street. We’re also considering the implementation of a reduced speed limit along Chillingham Road as part of these measures.

 

Helping people to shop local

New measures to encourage people to shop locally in neighbourhood shopping areas are to be put in place by Newcastle City Council.

A number of social distancing measures are being introduced into busy local shopping centres to help people access their local shops safely and to meet the rising demand for better walking and cycling facilities in neighbourhoods, as well as improving public transport links to the city.

Measures will be installed to manage the flow of people walking and queueing at local shopping centres including the introduction of one-way pedestrian systems and markings on the ground to provide advice to people about the distance they should be keeping, while providing guidance on what space should be used for queuing / walking.

The council has a rolling programme of shopping districts, with the first five areas identified due to high footfall and how quickly changes can be implemented. Some areas will start to see measures installed in the coming days and weeks.

While each area has different changes, these are likely to include measures like additional pedestrian crossings, one-way walking routes, guidance for queuing systems. They may also include cycle lanes and bus priority measures in the coming weeks, as soon as Traffic Regulation Orders are in place.

This work is likely to start with the removal of unnecessary guardrail and other street furniture and then follow on with putting in place cones and changes to lane widths and other measures. The shopping centres in the first phase include:

See detailed plans for more information and to see detailed plans of the shopping centres.

West Road

Key points

• Four-metre-wide pavements and one-way system to aid social distancing
• Extended bus lane to aid bus priority heading towards the city centre
• 20 mph speed limit introduced
• Cycling infrastructure to be added in Phase 2

Adelaide Terrace

Key points

• Temporary widening of some pavements and a one-way system to aid social distancing, some parking removed to enable this
• 20 mph speed limit introduced
• New cycling facilities to tie-in with cycle lanes on Elswick Road

Gosforth High St 

Key points

• Better links between two main shopping areas in Gosforth
• Bus lanes installed to improve bus priority
• Temporary pavement extensions and one-way systems to aid social distancing
• Wider waiting areas for bus passengers
• 20 mph speed limit has been introduced

Chillingham Road 

Key points

• Four-metre-wide pavements and one-way system to aid social distancing
• Linked cycle route with Heaton Road
• Parking bays removed
• Moved pedestrian crossings
• 20 mph speed limit introduced
• Improved bus priority measures

Shields Road

Key points

• Installing queuing systems and review of street furniture to ensure pavements kept clear, possible implementation of one-way systems.

As a general rule, the council is aiming to temporarily widen all pavements to four-metres to help people as they try to maintain social distancing. In order to do this, some lanes of traffic or parking spaces may need to be removed in certain areas. Where space is available, and it safe to do, cycle lanes will be put in place.

Bus priority measures such as bus lanes will also be installed to improve public transport across the city. This is critically important to help ensure buses are on time, which in turn will help make sure queuing for buses is manageable.

Initially temporary materials such as cones and barriers will be used, with the view to more permanent materials potentially being installed following input from local councillors, residents, businesses and community groups.

Each of the programmes will be reviewed three weeks after they are installed, giving local businesses and people time to get used to changes, and to consider whether further changes are needed. It will also enable the council to learn from how people are using the areas, and make changes where required.

As well as local shopping areas, in the coming weeks and months, the council will be looking at making further changes to the city-wide transport system including improving bus priority on key routes and reducing traffic around schools and local neighbourhoods.

The key focus will be on shifting road user priority away from motor vehicles in residential areas.