Newcastle City Council is set to trial two new red routes in the city centre to combat "dangerous and obstructive" parking on key bus routes. Vehicles will be banned from stopping on these routes, with offenders facing penalty charge notices.
Locations and trial period
The restrictions will be introduced on Blackett Street and along the bus route covering Newgate Street, Grainger Street, the bottom of Westgate Road, and Neville Street past Central Station. The trial will run for an initial 18 months.
Red lines painted on the road will indicate where the restrictions apply. Exceptions will be made for Hackney licensed taxis picking up or dropping off passengers, and for blue badge holders stopping to pick up or drop off a disabled person.
Council's rationale
Coun Peter Lovatt, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Local Services, 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 designated parking spaces or loading bays instead of pulling up at the side of the road."
Opposition concerns
Opposition leader Coun Steven Rutherford of Reform UK expressed concerns that the measures could deter visitors. He said: "I'm not a big fan. I think anything that is pushing people away from the city centre is a bad thing.
"It seems to be another way of penalising motorists who are just trying to go about their day. A lot of people don't have the option of coming into town in their vehicle, like disabled people or those who are just trying to do their jobs and they could get penalised.
"There's no doubt in my mind that once the public outcry starts because people have been fined for silly things, we will have another U-turn. It's just another way of trying to claw cash from people who are already struggling."
Implementation and consultation
The red routes are expected to be introduced in the coming months, with enforcement starting as soon as they are operational. A consultation will run during the first six months, and feedback will determine whether changes are needed before the measures are made permanent or removed.
Similar measures were introduced around Newcastle Airport in 2024, with penalties of up to £70 for stopping on the red route covering the A696 roundabout along the B6918 and Callerton Lane. Those restrictions aimed to prevent parking on roads and grass verges by motorists waiting to pick up or drop off passengers at the terminal.
