Residents and I are continually frustrated by unnecessary hold-ups and detours due to ongoing roadworks and an increase in housing within the Blyth area. Now, due to the addition of unannounced roadworks on South Newsham Road, Blyth is once again gridlocked until mid-December whilst these works continue. We understand these works need to be done - however support from Northumberland County Council is limited, bringing us onto a possible solution - one that has been rejected numerous times...

The Bus Gate, now known as "Old Laverock Hall Road" to some, was established several years after the South Newsham Road bypass was installed to relieve congestion through Newsham, from the ever-increasing density of South Blyth, the upcoming South Beach Estate and freight traffic to/from the Port of Blyth. Prior to becoming an established bus route, Laverock Hall Road was the main route in/out of Newsham and South Blyth towards Cramlington - and was long overdue the South Newsham Road bypass we have today  

Before finally becoming a bus only route, Laverock Hall Road became less used and naturally some drivers started to ignore speed limits and drive recklessly, endangering children playing near a road that naturally should see little to no traffic given the new bypass. Unfortunately that sad day once came and there was an accident with devastating consequences, finally leading residents to rightly petition for this road to be closed, or at least converted in to a lesser used road such as a bus-only route to increase safety. The Council listened and work was eventually completed, the route finally being converted for use by bus and emergency vehicles only, helping to solve what was undoubtedly a serious problem.

Since these changes however, more houses have been built in the surrounding area - making South Newsham Road more and more of a bottleneck, whilst the bus-gate naturally remained under-used. When the bypass opened, Portland Wynd, Longshore Village and most of South Beach didn't exist - however as years went on, more and more houses appeared - increasing traffic density over the now busy bypass. With time, roadworks become the norm and very quickly, like most of Blyth - the roads surrounding South Newsham Road became gridlocked. Previously, Newcastle Road was 1 way for months due to works on the new estate and gas upgrades, further down South Newsham Road was down to one lane for the installation of the eastern roundabout and now as of recent - 3 way temporary lights are installed on the new western roundabout; all of these works causing chaos and endless delays for residents. This, with the addition of all other ongoing works across Blyth and the fact there are only 3 main roads in and out (South Newsham Road being one) - means it is absolute chaos across the majority of the town  

Now we step back to 2020 and as a result of historic increases in traffic, roadworks and ongoing frustration, it became obvious to Northumberland County Council that residents would often illegally use the bus gate as a rat-run, which finally prompted them to introduce a bus-lane camera, automatically sending a penalty charge notice, a fine, to any drivers who use this route when they shouldn't. Of course this new camera has become a lucrative source of revenue for the council, raking in £181,820 [foi source] within the first two years of operation. This, however, comes at the expense of the locals, who are to this day forced to endure incessant delays while a perfectly serviceable road remains mostly un-utilised, clicking the cash register every time a driver gives into frustration or risk of being late, and uses the road.

Over the years, the additional housing development and increase in traffic, demand that Northumberland County Council reconsider the restrictions initially placed. We propose the council reopen Old Laverock Road to all traffic and employ other traffic management strategies, such as speed bumps and/or speed cameras as an alternative  

We need to understand that revoking these existing limitations does not equate to neglecting safety - it simply acknowledges the changing times and needs of our community and now is time to implement change  

Please, join us in urging Northumberland County Council to reconsider their decision; it's time to help ease the needless inconvenience caused, especially when the bus gate at Old Laverock Road can offer some form of relief to what is the big problem of traffic congestion in the town of Blyth.