Plans have been outlined for trial measures to stop dangerous and obstructive parking on key city centre bus routes.
The trial will see red route restrictions introduced on Newcastle’s Blackett Street to prevent vehicles from stopping there.
A further red route, covering the bus route along Newgate Street, Grainger Street, the bottom of Westgate Road and along Neville Street past Central Station, will also be implemented as a trial measure.
The restrictions are being introduced to ensure bus services are not held up in the city centre due to parked vehicles preventing traffic from moving freely.
On Blackett Street, parked vehicles are also resulting in safety concerns as they can often block sight lines for both pedestrians wishing to cross the road and bus drivers travelling along it.
Cllr Peter Lovatt, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Local Services at Newcastle City Council, said: “These trials are to review measures to keep our city moving and ensure we have reliable public transport.
“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 route restrictions are indicated by road signs along with red lines along the edge of the road. Where they are in place drivers are not permitted to stop for any reason, unless they are driving a Hackney licenced taxi dropping off or picking up passengers or the driver of a vehicle displaying a blue badge stopping to drop off or pick up a disabled person.
In order to facilitate deliveries to premises on Blackett Street, the layby on the left hand side of the road, just after the junction with Pilgrim Street, will become a dedicated loading bay.
Existing loading bays along the red route between Newgate Street and Neville Street will be maintained.
The red routes are planned to be introduced in the coming months with enforcement undertaken as soon as the schemes are operational. Any vehicles contravening the red route restrictions will be liable to receive a penalty charge notice.
The measures will be in place for a trial period of 18 months, with a public consultation period during the first six months.
Feedback from the consultation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the red routes will be used to determine whether any changes are needed before the measures are either made permanent or removed.