Plans to Scrap Gosforth High Street Cycle Lanes Spark Anger

Newcastle City Council has published new proposals for Gosforth High Street that would remove protected cycle lanes from much of the route — a move that has drawn strong opposition from cycling campaigners and residents who say it represents a major step backwards for active travel in the area.

What's being proposed

The council's plans cover five sections of the High Street. The most controversial elements include removing the protected northbound cycle lane between Salters Road and Regent Farm Road, and replacing it with a painted lane offering no physical separation from traffic. A painted southbound cycle lane from Church Road to Ivy Road would also go.

Of the roughly one-kilometre stretch of the High Street, only around 60 metres of protected bi-directional cycle infrastructure would remain — in the middle section. One area of the proposals includes no cycling provision at all.

The council says it is developing plans for alternative cycling routes that would run parallel to, rather than along, the High Street itself, though details have not yet been shared.

A long-running saga

The High Street's cycling infrastructure has been through multiple changes in recent years. Long rows of bollards were first installed in 2020 to create extra space for bikes and pedestrians during the Covid pandemic. These were removed in 2023 and replaced by a bus lane, with the council citing the need to speed up bus journey times.

The latest proposals follow a public consultation in April 2025 — but campaigners say the new designs drop several key measures that were included in that consultation, including a two-way cycle lane north of Christon Road, a cycle track and crossing on Christon Road, and a safe crossing for people cycling from West Avenue to Gosforth Central Park.

What campaigners say

The Newcastle Cycling Campaign has been sharply critical. On the painted-only lanes, they argue: if there is room for a cycle lane, why does it not have some protection? They point out that painted lanes provide little real safety, particularly on a busy high street with parked cars and heavy traffic.

SPACE for Gosforth, a local campaign group, has described the proposals as a "massive backwards step." Opponents say the plans would make the street more dangerous, particularly for children cycling to school, and undo years of progress on making Gosforth more accessible by bike.

What happens next

The council has said it will share further plans for parallel cycling routes at a later date, but no timeline has been confirmed. Residents can follow updates via the Newcastle City Council website and local campaign groups.

This is a story that matters to everyone who lives, shops, or travels through Gosforth — whether you cycle, drive, or walk. The High Street's future design will shape how the area feels and functions for years to come.