Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell has met with Taylor Wipmey, Newcastle City Council and Northumbria Police to discuss issues surrounding speeding and traffic management on Newcastle Great Park. 

The meeting was organised following Catherine’s recent survey in Newcastle Great Park regarding speeding and traffic management.

Catherine’s  survey found that, of those who responded, more than 78% of residents felt that speeding and dangerous driving is an issue on Newcastle Great Park and more than 55% witness speeding and dangerous driving at least once per day.

The meeting took place on site on Tuesday 17th August and Catherine discussed the concerns raised by residents with officials and pressed for further action to combat the issue.

During the meeting, the Consortium also shared their findings from speed surveys that were undertaken by TPS, the Consortium’s transport consultants, on the East Access Road, Roseden Way – between the East Access Road and the Community Centre – and Roseden Way/Speckledwood Way.

These surveys showed average speeds of

  •  East Access Road (30mph limit) – 26.8mph Northbound, 24.8mph Southbound
  • Roseden Way – between the East Access Road and the Community Centre (20mph limit) – 25.7mph Eastbound, 25.9mph Westbound.
  • Roseden Way/Speckledwood Way (20mph limit) – 25.6mph Eastbound, 26.7mph Westbound

Following the visit, Catherine commented “During the visit, we discussed what action can be taken to address the concerns that residents have with speeding and I highlighted the results of the survey to show how deeply concerned residents are, and the need for measures.

“Following the discussion, Taylor Wimpey are to liaise with Persimmon regarding bringing forward changes to junctions on Speckledwood Way, which would bring these in line with other areas within Great Park, and Newcastle City Council Highways Engineers agreed that this would bring the area to the required standard, and help to address issues with speeding. Of course as soon as I have a further update from Taylor Wimpey following their discussions, I will let update residents. 

“More widely across Great Park we discussed the plans from the Consortium for mobile speed warning signs – similar to those outside the School/Community Centre – which could be deployed across Newcastle Great Park to address problem areas on a rolling basis and the ‘20 is plenty’ campaign. The campaign from the Consortium and, TPS, alongside residents’ groups and Brunton First School, is planned to remind residents and the local community of the speed limits across Great Park.

“I will of course update residents once I receive further information from Taylor Wimpey and I hope that this action will address the problems that residents are facing.”