(11 Dec 2013, 9:15 pm)aureolin wrote The problem being you can't go around demolishing listed buildings. That tends to upset people.

That is true, but who actually goes into that Section of Eldon Square anyways, I don't as there isn't anything there bar from the Candy Shop if I want some Candy otherwise i'll into the Grainger Market. Surely offering an location to Relocate to would Sweeten things.

(11 Dec 2013, 9:21 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote That is true, but who actually goes into that Section of Eldon Square anyways, I don't as there isn't anything there bar from the Candy Shop if I want some Candy otherwise i'll into the Grainger Market. Surely offering an location to Relocate to would Sweeten things.

Yes, but that's your preference. It's obviously a viable business generating profit, otherwise it wouldn't be able to afford Intu's retail rent. Regardless of preference or viability of retail businesses, you still can't demolish listed buildings - whether 100 people use it or 0 do. It's preserved.

(11 Dec 2013, 9:25 pm)aureolin wrote Yes, but that's your preference. It's obviously a viable business generating profit, otherwise it wouldn't be able to afford Intu's retail rent. Regardless of preference or viability of retail businesses, you still can't demolish listed buildings - whether 100 people use it or 0 do. It's preserved.

Never mind that, that link you put up has been interesting.
Didn't realise that the town walls went down Blackett Street or there were long lost towers along the road too!

Loving a bit historical research about long lost buildings that if kept in a state of repair, would have meant Newcastle could have been on par with York.

(11 Dec 2013, 9:21 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote That is true, but who actually goes into that Section of Eldon Square anyways, I don't as there isn't anything there bar from the Candy Shop if I want some Candy otherwise i'll into the Grainger Market. Surely offering an location to Relocate to would Sweeten things.

That entire section of the shopping centre is to be completely refurbished starting next June and will reopen in summer 2015 as a restaurant and cafe mall which will stay open until late evening. All businesses which currently operate from both floors will close and have to relocate (which, incidentally does not include New Look who have been in the newest part of the centre next to Debenhams for 3 years now!). As already suggested, you can't knock down the listed building on the right hand side of Eldon Square (which is not and had never been classed as an 'office block'!!). In other words, you entire plan is, to be polite, unworkable. There is very little wrong with Eldon Square Bus Station and what is wrong could be solved by removing the spiral carpark and relocating that to elsewhere in the city. There are plans to build a new bus station with two possible locations. One just off Market Street East where the sexual health centre currently is and the other just off Durant Road where Mea House currently stands. This will be in addition to Haymarket and Eldon Square with the plan being that all southbound services that currently terminate at Eldon Square or the city centre streets will use the new bus station.

Eldon square bus station is a nightmare, if u r lucky to get through the 1st set of lights you'll never get through the next to turn into the bus station, only 2 buses will fit inbetween these lights, in the bus station itself if there is a bus on the drop off stand, the next stand up you cant get off until that stand is vacated or scrape the front of your bus, there isn't enough room considering 3 bus stations have been condensed into 1, worswick street, marlborough crescent and the old eldon square, typical nexus, not fit for purpose.

(12 Dec 2013, 10:15 pm)nk55 wrote Eldon square bus station is a nightmare, if u r lucky to get through the 1st set of lights you'll never get through the next to turn into the bus station, only 2 buses will fit inbetween these lights, in the bus station itself if there is a bus on the drop off stand, the next stand up you cant get off until that stand is vacated or scrape the front of your bus, there isn't enough room considering 3 bus stations have been condensed into 1, worswick street, marlborough crescent and the old eldon square, typical nexus, not fit for purpose.

What has the design got to do with Nexus?
They only manage a facility owned by the council and intu (previously Capital).
The likes of Marlbrough Crescent and Worswick St, were owned by the operators who made the commercial decision to run into Eldon Square (or have services run through the town like the 27, 53 etc do currently).

www.cda-group.co.uk/projects/transportation/eldon-square-bus-station/ are the people who designed it and Newcastle City Council are the ones who approved it (as well as the road/traffic system around it).

(13 Dec 2013, 10:33 am)andreos1 wrote What has the design got to do with Nexus?
They only manage a facility owned by the council and intu (previously Capital).
The likes of Marlbrough Crescent and Worswick St, were owned by the operators who made the commercial decision to run into Eldon Square (or have services run through the town like the 27, 53 etc do currently).

www.cda-group.co.uk/projects/transportation/eldon-square-bus-station/ are the people who designed it and Newcastle City Council are the ones who approved it (as well as the road/traffic system around it).

Same with the Galleries bus station. Crap design, but you can't blame GNE - they only manage it.

(13 Dec 2013, 11:13 am)aureolin wrote Same with the Galleries bus station. Crap design, but you can't blame GNE - they only manage it.

Exactly!

Stood waiting for an x1/4 home this morning, I was freezing as the wind blew down the stairs in front of the (hidden) travelshop.
Then when an x1 and 4 came in together, a w5 couldn't get out.
Someone trying to cross the road at the bus station, to get to the car parks had to take her life in her own hands and nearly had her head taken off by a passing bus, as she peeked to see if it was clear to cross.

Struggled to get off the x1 earlier in the morning due to the escalators being plonked by the stand and crowds of people.

Each and every one of those problems were down to the design of the place, not the manager.
Just like the issues at Haymarket, Eldon Square, Durham Bus Stations etc

(14 Dec 2013, 10:00 pm)andreos1 wrote Exactly!

Stood waiting for an x1/4 home this morning, I was freezing as the wind blew down the stairs in front of the (hidden) travelshop.
Then when an x1 and 4 came in together, a w5 couldn't get out.
Someone trying to cross the road at the bus station, to get to the car parks had to take her life in her own hands and nearly had her head taken off by a passing bus, as she peeked to see if it was clear to cross.

Struggled to get off the x1 earlier in the morning due to the escalators being plonked by the stand and crowds of people.

Each and every one of those problems were down to the design of the place, not the manager.
Just like the issues at Haymarket, Eldon Square, Durham Bus Stations etc

Where the 4/X1 stop at either side, it baffles me why they don't have a second door half way down - similar to the X66 stand at Gateshead. It just ends in chaos, especially when drivers choose to do a change-over on stand.

I think they should put the 4/X1 on the Idividual Stands where M2/M3/W5 and W6 stop, and then put in a Second Door on the Middle of the Double Stand and put the M2 etc on that Stand

Some people in Newton Aycliffe now want a Bus Station
http://www.newtonnews.co.uk/why-does-ayc...s-station/

This seems like the most pointless thing I've ever heard, Newton Aycliffe may be a big town with a large population but we don't have enough bus services to justify a Bus Station, the reason why places like Consett, Peterlee and Stanley have bus stations but we don't is because they have much more services than we do and many run to many different places like Newcastle and Sunderland where all Newton Aycliffe services (apart from the town service and work bus services) run to Darlington and its not like they are even that closely timed either as most services are about 7/8 minutes apart so we wouldn't need multiple stands either you would only really need 2 stands which would be one for Darlington and one for everywhere else.

What I will say is I think the Stephenson Way stand for service 5/5A and service 7 should be made a bit longer as the 5/5A and 7 are only 3 minutes apart and the 5/5A are often running a few minutes late so you often end with one on the stop at an angle with the back sticking out in the road which can be dangerous especially as there is a traffic island just before the stand. Also I think services 8 and 21 to Spennymoor / Peterlee bound journeys should serve the Stephenson Way stop along with the 5/5A and 7 then run round the back of the leisure centre (Greenwell Road) to reach Tesco which would mean it would the same route in both directions as these journeys currently stop opposite St. Clare's Church and I think this puts some people off (myself included) from using the 8/21 from Darlington as it is further to walk.

Another persons views
http://www.newtonnews.co.uk/bus-station-...-priority/

I think people forget that the High Level was and is at the end of life. It was virtual collapsing and a repair wasn't feasible or possible.

Opportunities weren't missed, they didn't exist

A third "Tyne Tunnel" linking South Shields directly to Tynemouth, Reducing the need to make an 8 Mile 25 Minute Journey, would also open New and Improved Transport Links.

- 1 way bus way (used according to the Peak Flow), built adjacent to Cobalt Park way between P&G and Atmel. Buses would use stops on Cobalt Park way at other times.

- 1 way bus way built on Bridlepath near Silverlink right through Middle Engine Lane and the back of Bewick Park to Addington Drive for use at peak times according to the flow of traffic.

- Roundabout at top of The Silverlink North / A191 replaced with traffic lights with:

- 2 lanes from Silverlink North to either A191 / Holystone or A191 towards Whitley Bay.
- A191 eastbound with three lanes with one towards Whitley Bay and other 2 towards Cobalt Park.
- A191 westbound with three lanes with 2 towards Cobalt and 1 towards Holystone / A19.

- Roundabout at Cobalt Park P&G / Cobalt Central replaced with traffic lights.

(25 May 2015, 7:34 pm)Malarkey wrote A third "Tyne Tunnel" linking South Shields directly to Tynemouth, Reducing the need to make an 8 Mile 25 Minute Journey, would also open New and Improved Transport Links.

The integrated system of bus, metro and ferry was designed to do that - without the expense of digging a tunnel.
It all fell apart in 86 though.

(25 May 2015, 7:34 pm)Malarkey wrote A third "Tyne Tunnel" linking South Shields directly to Tynemouth, Reducing the need to make an 8 Mile 25 Minute Journey, would also open New and Improved Transport Links.

I don't think a South Shields-North Shields/Tynemouth tunnel or bridge is necessarily needed however I do think further crossings are required to alleviate congestion. If it were up to me I'd build two: one between Bill Quay/Hebburn and Walker; and the second between Elswick/Paradise and Metrocentre.  

(26 May 2015, 1:58 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I don't think a South Shields-North Shields/Tynemouth tunnel or bridge is necessarily needed however I do think further crossings are required to alleviate congestion. If it were up to me I'd build two: one between Bill Quay/Hebburn and Walker; and the second between Elswick/Paradise and Metrocentre.  

It'd be interesting to see how feasible a light railway crossing between North Shields and South Shields Metro stations would be.

(26 May 2015, 1:58 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I don't think a South Shields-North Shields/Tynemouth tunnel or bridge is necessarily needed however I do think further crossings are required to alleviate congestion. If it were up to me I'd build two: one between Bill Quay/Hebburn and Walker; and the second between Elswick/Paradise and Metrocentre.

Or, how about little ferries, which would accept cars?
Works well in the Netherlands and to an extent the same across the Clyde from Gourock to Dunoon.

Granted, the flow wouldn't be as significant as a bridge, but could work and be significantly cheaper.

The old passenger only ferries on the Tyne, all vanished (apart from the Shields one), but one that accepted cars hasn't been tried as far as I am aware.

(26 May 2015, 2:08 pm)Andreos1 wrote Or, how about little ferries, which would accept cars?
Works well in the Netherlands and to an extent the same across the Clyde from Gourock to Dunoon.

Granted, the flow wouldn't be as significant as a bridge, but could work and be significantly cheaper.

The old passenger only ferries on the Tyne, all vanished (apart from the Shields one), but one that accepted cars hasn't been tried as far as I am aware.

Im positive that the shields ferry used to have cars aswell, but im talking about 50 years ago or so. the mid tyne ferries went out due to the shipping industry went down the pan when joining the EU. at most of them time it was for the ship workers etc...

Its the same as the wear ferry which was used for the dock workers traveling from the north to the south and vice versa.

(26 May 2015, 2:08 pm)Andreos1 wrote Or, how about little ferries, which would accept cars?
Works well in the Netherlands and to an extent the same across the Clyde from Gourock to Dunoon.

Granted, the flow wouldn't be as significant as a bridge, but could work and be significantly cheaper.

The old passenger only ferries on the Tyne, all vanished (apart from the Shields one), but one that accepted cars hasn't been tried as far as I am aware.

I believe that would work in place of the Shields ferry, and perhaps between Hebburn and Walker - the return of the old mid-Tyne ferry - but I can't see it working between Paradise and Metrocentre. A bridge between the latter two points has been in the pipeline for quite some time with various organisations being interested in its development. However, much like the Leamside Line, nobody is willing to provide the initial funding to kickstart the project. Someday it may come to fruition but I won't hold my breath. 

It is briefly discussed here: 
http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/others.html

I beleive there are other documents available online which also discuss this the project. There may also be other documentation at either Gateshead or Newcastle library - I can't remember which.

(26 May 2015, 2:19 pm)cbma06 wrote Im positive that the shields ferry used to have cars aswell, but im talking about 50 years ago or so. the mid tyne ferries went out due to the shipping industry went down the pan when joining the EU. at most of them time it was for the ship workers etc...

Its the same as the wear ferry which was used for the dock workers traveling from the north to the south and vice versa.

You're right. The Shields Ferry used to carry vehicles. This ceased sometime between 1967 and 1972 once the Tyne Tunnel had been opened and when the existing vehicular ferries were withdrawn from service - eventually replaced by the Freda Cunningham.

http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/hshields.html

(26 May 2015, 2:19 pm)cbma06 wrote Im positive that the shields ferry used to have cars aswell, but im talking about 50 years ago or so. the mid tyne ferries went out due to the shipping industry went down the pan when joining the EU. at most of them time it was for the ship workers etc...

Its the same as the wear ferry which was used for the dock workers traveling from the north to the south and vice versa.

Never knew that about the Shields Ferry.
Suppose it would have made sense it being their prior to the tunnel being built.

Aye, once the industry went, then there was no point having ferries scuttling about between derelict sites.

There is sight of one ferry in Get Carter.

(26 May 2015, 2:24 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I believe that would work in place of the Shields ferry, and perhaps between Hebburn and Walker - the return of the old mid-Tyne ferry - but I can't see it working between Paradise and Metrocentre A bridge between the latter two points has been in the pipeline for quite some time with various organisations being interested in its development. However, much like the Leamside Line, nobody is willing to provide the initial funding to kickstart the project. Someday it may come to fruition but I won't hold my breath. 

It is briefly discussed here: 
http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/others.html

I beleive there are other documents available online which also discuss this the project. There may also be other documentation at either Gateshead or Newcastle library - I can't remember which.

Did there used to be a ferry that far down way back prior to the Scotswood Bridge?

A Clipper style service, like the one in London could work at various points along the river, although with the location of the Metrocentre and its distance from river, I imagine that may problematic in attracting foot passengers.

(26 May 2015, 2:50 pm)Andreos1 wrote Never knew that about the Shields Ferry.
Suppose it would have made sense it being their prior to the tunnel being built.

Aye, once the industry went, then there was no point having ferries scuttling about between derelict sites.

There is sight of one ferry in Get Carter.


Did there used to be a ferry that far down way back prior to the Scotswood Bridge?

A Clipper style service, like the one in London could work at various points along the river, although with the location of the Metrocentre and its distance from river, I imagine that may problematic in attracting foot passengers.

There used to be one between Ryton and Blayney Row (Lemington). I have an old A-Z somewhere from the 1980s which still suggests its existence even though it had ceased sometime in the 60s. If I can dig it out (or find it even), I'll post a scan.

There also used to be one at Blaydon. The land where Newburn Riverside is located used to be an island (and was where the Blaydon Races were originally held). The emergence heavy industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth necessitated the need for the river to be diverted to run its current course.

Ticket Machines like what you see at T&W Metro Stations across the region, but at Bus Stops/Bus Stations.

So basically you could walk to your local stop knowing your Bus is a few minutes away, Purchase your Ticket from the Machine and show the Driver upon boarding the Bus, this would result in faster Vehicle Loading Times and in turn likely improve Reliability of all Bus Services across the Region.

With regards to Smart Cards, you would still have to scan them on the Machine on the Bus, Single Fares would also only be available from the Driver also.

(21 Feb 2016, 1:27 pm)Malarkey wrote Ticket Machines like what you see at T&W Metro Stations across the region, but at Bus Stops/Bus Stations.

So basically you could walk to your local stop knowing your Bus is a few minutes away, Purchase your Ticket from the Machine and show the Driver upon boarding the Bus, this would result in faster Vehicle Loading Times and in turn likely improve Reliability of all Bus Services across the Region.

With regards to Smart Cards, you would still have to scan them on the Machine on the Bus, Single Fares would also only be available from the Driver also.

London had them, but have now withdrawn them all. The way forward would be regionwide smart cards that allow you to have a 'credit', or even acceptance of contactless payment from bank cards/applepay/etc.

Of course having TVMs at bus interchanges and such would be useful, to allow people to top up and purchase tickets.

(21 Feb 2016, 1:27 pm)Malarkey wrote Ticket Machines like what you see at T&W Metro Stations across the region, but at Bus Stops/Bus Stations.

So basically you could walk to your local stop knowing your Bus is a few minutes away, Purchase your Ticket from the Machine and show the Driver upon boarding the Bus, this would result in faster Vehicle Loading Times and in turn likely improve Reliability of all Bus Services across the Region.

With regards to Smart Cards, you would still have to scan them on the Machine on the Bus, Single Fares would also only be available from the Driver also.

Yeah, they'd not get vandalised.