IMPORTANT:  For signatures to be considered valid, please comply with the Council's requirements. You must include your (1) name, (2) home address, and (3) identify whether you live, work, study, or own a business in the City.

To: Newcastle City Council

We, the residents of Havannah Park Estate and members of the wider community, are requesting that Newcastle City Council urgently consider installing traffic calming measures and a safe crossing point on Coach Lane, right by the entrance to the Havannah & Three Hills Nature Reserve that leads onto the Havannah Park Estate (Image A).

(Image A)

Why this matters

The Havannah Park Estate has over 200 homes. Every single day, a large number of families, school children, and residents cross Coach Lane on foot, scooters, or bikes to get to nearby schools, commute to work, or to enjoy the nature reserve.

Right now, crossing this road can be very dangerous for several reasons:

High Risk to School Children

This is a commonly used route for children to take when commuting to school on foot, on a scooter, or by bicycle. Navigating such a busy road daily is compromising their safety.

In addition to the lack of any safe crossing, there are no traffic-calming measures in place. The other entrance to the nature reserve (Image B) has the latter, but more is needed to ensure children’s safety. 

(Image B)

Dangerous Speeding

Residents frequently observe vehicles travelling at speeds that appear to be significantly over the 30mph limit, making this commute dangerous at times.

No Road Safety Infrastructure

There are currently no dedicated pedestrian crossings, cyclist corridors, or physical traffic-calming measures anywhere on this section of Coach Lane to effectively slow incoming traffic or assist pedestrians. This is even more problematic as the 30mph speed limit is frequently ignored.

Danger for Cyclists

Adult and child cyclists are particularly vulnerable as they are forced to mix with fast-moving traffic on Coach Lane without a protected crossing zone or cycle-safe infrastructure.

Reduced Visibility during Darker Months

During the shorter days of autumn and winter months, morning and afternoon school and other commutes take place in low-light conditions in certain parts of Coach Lane. The combination of speeding vehicles on Coach Lane, poor seasonal visibility, and zero-crossing assistance creates a dangerous environment for all road users.

Our Request to the Council

We respectfully request that Newcastle City Council:

1. Conduct a formal road safety assessment of Coach Lane at the Havannah & Three Hills Nature Reserve entrance and other nearby locations where crossing safety may be an issue
2. Consult with residents regarding road safety concerns and potential improvements
3. Consider appropriate interventions, including:
   - A pedestrian crossing or shared pedestrian/cycle crossing
   - Traffic-calming measures to reduce vehicle speeds
   - Speed monitoring and enforcement support including the installation of fixed or mobile speed cameras where appropriate
4. Additional road safety measures identified through the assessment

Improving safety at this location would help protect pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike, while supporting safe access to local schools, homes, and one of the area's most valued green spaces.

REMINDER:  For signatures to be considered valid, please comply with the Council's requirements. You must include your (1) name, (2) home address, and (3) identify whether you live, work, study, or own a business in the City.