(01 Sep 2023, 9:18 pm)Ambassador wrote Is it really an infrastructure development of note though? 

You’ve (well not you directly of course) built an interchange station nobody wanted. Buses served the centre, the metro station is what it is and the ferry is so badly integrated you’d be better off swimming. 

The compelling reason to visit has to be the retail or bespoke offering which doesn’t exist. Fish Quay is car and taxi heavy and North Shields town centre is an utter dive.

The sensible investment would have been to lower rates, encourage investment in the town, open up bespoke retail, leisure etc then think about a shiny new interchange.

Buses server the centre. What are you on about. They stopped at the bottom of Bedford Street. I'd say the Interchange is a welcome. The amount of criticism to the Interchange is purely cause it doesn't have enough buses to serve it. Alright have you seen before it was open where they stopped

1/317/53 Bedford Street 
10/11/307 Rudyerd Street 
317/Metro Replacement Railway Terrace 

Having them all in one building makes it easier then having to do to 3 difficult places to get a bus service. Plus once it was demolished. Everything went onto Bedford Street and look how packed that became. The cars weren't helping either. The Interchange will do well