• Group effort transforms local area

    Partner Living Streets

    Scheme Fitter for Walking

    Location Sunderland, Newcastle and Gateshead

     

    A group in Byker joined forces with Living Streets and Newcastle Council to improve a shared cycle and pedestrian traffic-free route in their area, resulting in council action and a
    clean-up that enabled and encouraged more residents to use it.
     
    Peter Riddell, regional coordinator for Living Streets’ Fitter for Walking, set up the project with Friends of St Lawrence Park (FSLP). They were concerned about access to the park, specifically from the Byker Link. The Link is an extremely important community resource, as it enables access to the
    park from the Byker Estate, providing a safer walking route for residents than the surrounding busy streets.
     
    Peter and the group, along with local residents, held a street audit to look at the Byker Link and the condition of the local walking environment. The audit noted that along with the vegetation that needed to be cut back, a section of pathway where the route reaches the local shops on Shields Road was blocked by a large smoking shelter attached to a Bingo Hall.
     
    With the audit complete and recommendations made to the council, the legitimacy of the shelter was investigated. It was found to be unauthorised and was removed, restoring the pedestrian right of way.
     

    A community clean-up day was held on the Byker Link in partnership with the Council. Participating were local residents, naval volunteers and council staff. It saw the removal of vegetation encroaching upon the footpath and cutting back of thick vegetation adjacent to the path, uncovering a number of stone seating features which are now used by walkers. Residents have commented that it has never looked so clean. The FSLP and Living Streets have promoted the route to a local walking group, who previously had to leave the area to enjoy their walks, and to children and families at the primary school to encourage access to the park facilities along the route. Their ownership of the space has also resulted in a number of smaller follow-up clean-ups.

    Result: By enabling the community to work with the council and implement what they need to improve the local area, a previously little-used traffic-free route is now being used regularly by residents





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