Newcastle Area - Improving the Public Realm (Streetscape, Public Squares, Fountains, etc)

[WilfBurnsFan]

Removing Baron House wouldn't create a 'square', it would just create a piece iof undefined open space - and given current traffic patterns, this would in effect be an oversized traffic island. Nor would it give a 'prospect' to anyone leaving the Central Station. The magic wand solution would be the cut'n'covering of Neville Street to bury the traffic and create a station plaza - or indeed my namesake's 1961 aspirations for an E-W motorway above the Quayside/Close - but they ain't gonna happen.

[TownPlanningNE]

The area around Barras Bridge should be improved further once the INTO Newcastle buildings are complete; I thought these were supposed to start at the end of September anyway?

[geordiejon]

Originally Posted by WilfBurnsFan

Removing Baron House wouldn't create a 'square', it would just create a piece iof undefined open space - and given current traffic patterns, this would in effect be an oversized traffic island. Nor would it give a 'prospect' to anyone leaving the Central Station. The magic wand solution would be the cut'n'covering of Neville Street to bury the traffic and create a station plaza - or indeed my namesake's 1961 aspirations for an E-W motorway above the Quayside/Close - but they ain't gonna happen.

Putting the traffic under Neville street would be almost impossible due to the metro tunnels below.

Ad just getting rid of Baron House wouldnt really create a proper square- we would just end up with the same half measures we get around the monument of Eldon Square.

[geordiejon]

Originally Posted by TownPlanningNE

The area around Barras Bridge should be improved further once the INTO Newcastle buildings are complete; I thought these were supposed to start at the end of September anyway?

Yes that part of the city is looking much better these days- and is always buzzing when the students and workers are about. INTO will be the final building around Barras Bridge. Now all we need is the AWFUL oxfam block opposite the Haymarket Bus Station and of course the upgrading of the bus station and there you go.

[BigLebowski]

Interesting that the traffic problems outlined here are actually brought up as a hurdle to the forthcoming world cup host-city bid:

Population 271,000
Current stadium St James’ Park (capacity 52,000)
2018 plan St James’ Park to be used as it is
The case for St James’ Park enjoys the rare benefits of being situated slap bang in a city centre. Excellent public transport links are close at hand as are numerous restaurants, hotels, bars and shops
The case against The traffic on the A1 Western Bypass and on the various bridges across the Tyne can become extremely congested at peak times. The road infra-structure may struggle to cope

Full article (and competing cities) here


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/g...ture=350029277

[johnnypd]

i don't think it is that bad compared to other cities. sure i read that the average traffic speed in newcastle is the highest in the country. also the bad traffic only really hits during rush hour periods, traffic for newcastle matches are never too terrible. suggesting the road system will struggle is a bit weird considering newcastle has hosted hundreds of 52,000 crowds for a number of years now with no problem. the fact that this is the most prominent 'against' argument they can come up with speaks volumes about the strength of our bid.

[Eaomatrix]

Originally Posted by johnnypd

i don't think it is that bad compared to other cities. sure i read that the average traffic speed in newcastle is the highest in the country. also the bad traffic only really hits during rush hour periods, traffic for newcastle matches are never too terrible. suggesting the road system will struggle is a bit weird considering newcastle has hosted hundreds of 52,000 crowds for a number of years now with no problem. the fact that this is the most prominent 'against' argument they can come up with speaks volumes about the strength of our bid.

It also hosted euro 1996 games without a problem if I believe. The current city and stadia has only improved since then aswell.

[geordiejon]

Not meaning to take this away from the real idea of this thread but the idea that the traffic is a big problem in Newcastle bid to be a WC city- I mean has anyone tried driving around Wembley or Emirates? It is clutching at straws to put that down- anyway you would hope a number of those watching would be from the countries the teams playing therefore would be staying in hotels in the city centre/jesmond and would not have cars! It also contridicts itself as it said in the first paragraph that it had numerous transport links- which includes its own Metro Station that it failed to mention.
Because of its city centre location and its location close to numerous numeorus hotels (not just travelodge type hotels that many cities have) it is actually unique in its bid.

[toonlad]

Surely the area in front of the Civic Centre could be made into a proper public square. THey could install more hard landscaping and use it as a venue for events, like the german market at Christmas, a monthly farmers market and the occassional open air film etc. Could also allow a limited number of street vendors to have stalls too.

Could even get the BBC to put their big screen in! Although I doubt the council planning committee will go for that

[NewcastleStu]

Newcastle and Gateshead are to get 1000 electric vehicle charging points over the next two years. This should certainly improve the public realm if it results in an increase in air quality. Very few details on this at the moment though.

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by NewcastleStu

Newcastle and Gateshead are to get 1000 electric vehicle charging points over the next two years. This should certainly improve the public realm if it results in an increase in air quality. Very few details on this at the moment though.

Yeah, I think thats a good thing, but I have spotted a few errors in the plan.

1. Who/what is to stop a mindless idiot from being able to simply unplug the charge points, when the owner of the car is away doing his shopping or such?

2. It would only be a benifit to a small amount of vechiels and people, mainly the vechiels of local councils, and people who do not travel outside of the city or region, the lack of charge point elsewhere would be something to overcome.

3. Why don't we just do what California does?, and have cars that run Hydro (or something like that) energy, with petrol station supplying the fuel.

[geordiejon]

Originally Posted by toonlad

Surely the area in front of the Civic Centre could be made into a proper public square. THey could install more hard landscaping and use it as a venue for events, like the german market at Christmas, a monthly farmers market and the occassional open air film etc. Could also allow a limited number of street vendors to have stalls too.

Could even get the BBC to put their big screen in! Although I doubt the council planning committee will go for that

I have thought of this too- although it could result the knocking down of many old trees- which would be unthinkable- plu more hard surface would mean the colony of rabbits looe their homes!!!

So it i unlikely to happen. The only large scale square IMO could only be developed if and whe they do EPS- around the Laing/ Library would be the ideal place.

[johnnypd]

might want to check out the quayside railaings!


Man plunges into River Tyne as railing fails

Nov 10 2009 By Sam Wood, The Journal

Police at the scene on Newcastle Quayside

MYSTERY last night surrounded the collapse of a metal railing that sent a man plunging into the River Tyne.

The man was leaning on the railing on the Newcastle side of the river at Forth Banks, near the Copthorne Hotel, when the top bar gave way and he fell into the icy waters.

It was not clear if the collapse, which can be seen clearly in our pictures taken at the scene just minutes after the accident, was due to corrosion or if the barrier had been tampered with.

Four fire engines and the fire and rescue boat were called to the scene and the man was pulled from the water. He was taken to hospital and treated but was said to be unhurt in the incident.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "We had a call from a woman at around 6.30pm yesterday saying a man had fallen into the river."

"She said a man was leaning on the railing which gave way and he fell in. The man was pulled from the river and treated in hospital before going home."

A spokeswoman for Tyne and Wear Fire service said: "We got a call just before 6.30pm about an incident in the Forth Banks area of the city centre. The swift water rescue team looked after the man before the fire rescue boat took him up the river to a waiting ambulance."

A spokesman for Newcastle Council, which has responsibility for the railings, said: "We regularly carry out checks on the barriers and repairs are carried out promptly because of health and safety concerns. We have recently repainted the fences in that area and if any corrosion had been noticed they would have been replaced."

[AngerOfTheNorth]

From my limited knowledge, there are two main possible future power systems for cars - hydrogen fuel cells and electric batteries. No one is sure which one will become the dominant type, so until we do, we should be providing for both. Currently, most people won't use these as the infrastructure doesn't exist. By putting it in, it removes that barrier, which is a great thing.

I totally support this, well done NCC.

As for people pulling the plug out, you could easily lock it into place in the same way you lock the doors.

[Geordie Ahmed]

The lighting on George Street looks really good - would be nice if that kind of lighting was introduced throughout the city centre

[NewcastleStu]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

From my limited knowledge, there are two main possible future power systems for cars - hydrogen fuel cells and electric batteries. No one is sure which one will become the dominant type, so until we do, we should be providing for both. Currently, most people won't use these as the infrastructure doesn't exist. By putting it in, it removes that barrier, which is a great thing.

I totally support this, well done NCC.

As for people pulling the plug out, you could easily lock it into place in the same way you lock the doors.

Hydrogen is likely to be delivered through the existing petrol station infrastructure though so it wouldn't be down to NCC to do anything about that. Still very supportive of the electric charging points move.

[johnnypd]

i know nothing about the subject as i dont drive but loads of people in california drive hybrids. a good way to stimulate this sort of technology becoming widespread is by making or encouraging corporations to ensure company cars to adhere to these standards. that way you can immediately get a bulk amount of these cars out on the road and not have to wait for 'pioneers' to lead the way.

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed

The lighting on George Street looks really good - would be nice if that kind of lighting was introduced throughout the city centre

what type of lighting is that?

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by johnnypd

what type of lighting is that?

Its just the street lamps BUT they use what looks like bright white lights - it makes the street look good at night

[gregstone]

bright white lights replacing the orange ones.... the whole city is being done and it's about 70% complete