active travel newcastle

Newcastle Cycling Campaign

Newcastle’s active travel schemes – progress and funding – update September 2022

Last year the government published Gear Change: One Year On , featuring Newcastle’s own Queen Victoria Road. It stated that ‘plans are underway to make the temporary changes permanent, following positive public feedback’. We are still waiting to find out when the work will begin here. Further Active Travel funding was announced this year, which makes Newcastle City Council one of the highest recipients of active travel funding in England (outside London), showing the level of ambition our Councillors have for our city. Active Travel England has now been set up to oversee the delivery of the Active Travel Fund and we thought it was time to review where we are with funding and delivery.

We also have a new Leader of the Council – Cllr Nick Kemp and a new Cabinet Member with responsibiliy for transport, Cllr Jane Byrne , and we have written to them both, and met with Cllr Byrne, to express our support for more and better cycling infrastructure. You can contact them at [email protected] and [email protected] to express your support for our four asks – protected cycle lanes on main roads, safe junctions, low traffic neighbourhoods and school streets – and to let them know where you would like these.

Investment to date

• In 2015, the Cycle City Ambition Fund 2 programme was launched. It has been difficult to keep track of progress on this, but a review of schemes indicates that little or no progress has been made on many of them.
• In 2016 Newcastle City Council confirmed that three areas – Fenham & Arthur’s Hill, Jesmond and Heaton would each receive £1m guaranteed funding as part of a Streets for People project to improve walking and cycling in these neighbourhoods – some of these schemes have been successfully implemented but many have not (see accounts of these schemes and updates on progress here)
• In 2020, a successful Active Travel Fund (Tranche 1) saw the introducion of protected space for cycling on Grey Street, Queen Victoria Road and Gosforth High Street and modal filters on five bridges in the east of the city (see accounts of these schemes and updates on progress here and our consultation response to Grey Street plans here) . We were pleased to hear that the most recent plan for Grey Street includes two-way cycling but there is no update on whether or when this scheme will be implemented. We remain concerned about the future of ATE funded schemes given that the goverment has consistently stated that funding may be withheld for future transport schemes if allocated funding is not spent on delivering successful bids.
• In December 2020, Newcastle receveid £3.8m in Active Travel Fund (Tranche 2) to make permanent the reallocation of road space on Grey Street and Queen Victoria Road to walking and cycling – there is no progress on this to date
• In May 2022, the North East received £17.9m from the Active Travel Fund (Tranche 3) – making it the region with the most successful bid. Out of this, Newcastle was awarded £7.7m to fund four schemes – there has been no public announcement of how this funding will be spent
• In early 2021 Newcastle announced plans for ‘Cleaner, Greener, Safer Neighbourhoods’ which would include low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and school streets – so far only the Fenham LTN has been implemented and we are awaiting news of plans for Heaton, Arthur’s Hill, Jesmond, Shieldfield, West Fenham, Kenton and Ouseburn Valley; two out of a proposed 11 school streets have been implemented, one at Hotspur Primary and one at Grange First School

Our message to city leaders

We believe that an equitable city is one which provide safe space for cycling, all the more urgent with the cost of living and climate crises, and we are thrilled to see Newcastle punching well above its weight in terms of ambition and funding .

The recent Tyneside Walking and Cycling Index found that “participation [in cycling] is not currently equal. Barriers to cycling can be far more pronounced for some people. Safety, including road safety and personal safety, is the single largest barrier to cycling.” (Sustrans, 2021) It also found that many people would like to cycle but are put off by the lack of safe infrastructure. Funding for cycling infrastructure is therefore vitally important, but so is delivery and we have some concerns about this in Newcastle.

It is exciting to see progress finally being made on the Heaton Road protected cycle lanes, on low traffic neighbourhoods and on school streets. But progress is very slow and we have serious concerns about the Council’s ability to achieve its Net Zero plans or to address social inequity by prioritising inexpensive modes of transport such as walking and cycling. We are concerned that no progress has been made on schemes funded by ATE Tranche 2 or 3 and hope that this funding is not being put at risk through lack of progress on delivery, particularly when there has been such strong public support for schemes like Queen Victoria Road and Grey Street. We are also awaiting an announcement on the future of Gosforth High Street, which will give us a good indication of the Council’s priorities – will this scheme comply with their transport hierarchy – walking and wheeling, then cycling, then public transport, then private motor vehicles? Or will it retain motor dominance with continued through routes for motor traffic at the expense of walking and cycling?

We are also now ten years into the city’s ten year cycle plan , which Cllr Nigel Todd introduced by stating “Delivering Cycling Improvements in Newcastle is not the end of a story but opens a fresh chapter. It will guide us over the next few years in achieving important changes, rebalancing the relationship between road users in favour of modes of transport that diminish carbon emissions”. The aim of the strategy was to “develop a cycling culture where 20% of all trips under five miles are undertaken by cycle by 2021”. While we have made some fantastic progress, many aspects of this strategy have not been heeded and we are some way off meeting the target number of trips by bike. We would like to see a programme for the deliver of these schemes, as we have asked for previously , and we would like to request, as we have done many times previously, that the Council regularly updates the public on progress and works more closely with stakeholder groups such as our campaign and the SPACE groups. Cllr Byrne has made time to meet with us and other stakeholder groups and we are very hopeful that she can make some positive changes. FInally, we would like to reiterate that we are here to help councillors – to act as a sounding board and discuss ideas they may have been presented with by officers. We would, after all, like to see them succeed in making our city a better, healthier and more equitable place to live in.

Share this:

Newcastle’s West End communities to receive £3.85m active travel investment

People living in the West End of Newcastle can look forward to new and safer cycling routes thanks to a £3.85m investment.

Newcastle City Council has been awarded funding by Active Travel England as part of a £17.7m package earmarked for schemes in the North East following a regional bid by Transport North East. In Newcastle the money will be spent on improvements along Elswick Road to make the area safer for people to walk, wheel and cycle.

The investment will include the development of a new cycle lane, new pedestrian crossings, changes to traffic access on a number of side roads and the installation of secure cycle parking facilities at schools and shops in the area.

Cllr Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected, clean city at Newcastle City Council, commented: “This is fantastic news for residents in this area of the city, which is going to benefit from a significant investment to provide high quality and safer cycling and walking routes.

“As well as helping people get to schools, shops and other local facilities, this will also open up opportunities to access jobs and training and will enable more people to enjoy and feel confident about active travel. The new cycle lane will also link up with existing routes helping to further extend our cycling network across the city.

“We want everyone in Newcastle to be able to choose and benefit from active travel. This leads to better physical and mental health; stronger, connected communities and a better, more sustainable environment for future generations. Ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place is an important part of achieving this goal.”

People will be invited to have their say on the initial proposals for Elswick Road before detailed designs are finalised.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

• Add me on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date
• And follow Bdaily on Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn
• Submit press releases to [email protected] for consideration.

Explore these topics

Our partners.

Sponsored Content

Explore the North East using Active Travel this half-term

Half-term is fast approaching, and we’re here to help you get out and get active, while keeping the whole family entertained during the school holidays.

If you’re struggling to find things to do that won’t break the bank, look no further than Go Smarter, Go Active’s FREE Active Travel Days Out Guides and Interactive Maps to occupy your time and make lasting family memories.

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee said: “The Go Smarter, Go Active tools encourage more sustainable, active travel, reducing the reliance on travelling by car- and are the perfect resources to help families leave the car at home and discover the rich heritage and culture that is on their doorstep on foot or by bike.

“As well as guaranteed family fun, the guides encourage greater use of active travel and play a significant part in helping families to reduce their own carbon footprint during the half-term holiday and beyond. This all helps to deliver our transport ambitions, which are outlined in the region’s Transport Plan.”

There are 16 fun-filled Days Out Guides for you to try. Packed with fun facts, folklore and history, all of the guides are illustrated in a way that brings each of the areas they cover to life! Designed to be walked or cycled, there are shorter routes, ideal for families with young children, and longer cross-boundary routes for those looking to make a day of it. Each guide is designed to help you discover amazing and perhaps previously uncovered parts of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland- offering an abundance of options for half-term days out, whether you’re wanting to explore your local area or somewhere completely new.

All of the guides are educational, bursting with stories and anecdotes about some of the region’s most impressive landmarks, beaches, market towns and beautifully preserved countryside. Many of the guides are also suitable for wheeled pedestrians, those with limited mobility and people bringing pushchairs. Simply check the suitability key on each guide for more information. Download the guides for free at: gosmartergoactive.co.uk

If you are keen to make your own adventures, why not use our free Interactive Walking and Cycling Map to plan the best route to get you to your chosen destination. The map brings together all of the walking and cycling routes in the whole of the North East- presenting unlimited possibilities for active journeys during the school holidays! Download a map for free at: gosmartergoactive.co.uk

If you try out a Days Out Guide or use any of the maps to explore this half-term, make sure you take a photo and tag us on social media so we can share in your fun.

The Go Smarter, Go Active campaign is being delivered on behalf of the North East Joint Transport Committee by Transport North East, working in partnership with the seven North East Local Authorities. Funding for the campaign is being provided by the government’s Active Travel Fund .

SPACE for Gosforth

North East Active Travel Strategy March 2023

Transport North East is currently consulting on its draft Active Travel Strategy to encourage more Active Travel – walking, wheeling and cycling – across the North East. This blog sets out SPACE for Gosforth’s response to that consultation.

Following on from their Making the Right Travel Choice strategy published in Nov 2022, the Active Travel Strategy aims to support this strategy by enabling more active travel journeys.

The Active Travel Strategy has outlined a single specific target to increase short active travel journeys by 45% by 2035. 

Who Are Transport North East?

Transport for the North East provides “strategy, planning and delivery services on behalf of the North East Joint Transport Committee (NEJTC) “.  This committee is made up of the region’s two Combined Authorities (North of Tyne Combined Authority covering Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland, and the North East Combined Authority covering Durham, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside). It came into being in as part of legislation enacting the North of Tyne Combined Authority and Mayor.

In March 2021 the North East Transport Plan was published, outlining a Vision and set of objectives for the North East and identifying the transport priorities needed to meet those objectives.  The lead policy of the Transport Plan is ‘helping people to make the right travel choice’.  This then led to the Make the Right Travel Choice Strategy .  The North East Active Travel Strategy will help to achieve this aim by ‘enabling more active travel journeys’.

What Does This Target Actually Mean?

To place this target in context, the data detailing the current number, type and length of journeys in the North East comes from the Department for Transport’s annual National Travel Survey .  This target specifically aims to increase the number of journeys under five miles which are walked, wheeled or cycled.  Our understanding is that the dataset that has been used as a baseline for this target is the 2018/2019 given the impact that the coronavirus pandemic had on the sample size of subsequent surveys.

Using this data, active travel choices in the North East currently make up 37% of trips under 5 miles.  An increase of 45% will bring this to 54%, broadly in line with the Active Travel England objective of “50% of trips in England’s towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030.” and the government’s Second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS2, Jul 2022) which has long-term objectives to “increase the percentage of short journeys in towns and cities that are walked or cycled to 50% in 2030 and to 55% in 2035.”

You can read or listen to the strategy here and comment on the strategy here or by emailing [email protected] until midnight on the 5 th March 2023.

Dear Transport North East

Re: Active Travel Strategy March 2022

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Transport North East draft Active Travel Strategy.

We are a community group based in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. SPACE stands for Safe Pedestrian and Cycling Environment. Our group was established in 2015 due to residents’ concerns about road danger and air pollution in our local neighbourhood. You can find our group objectives on our website https://www.spaceforgosforth.com/about .

We previously responded to Transport North East’s Make the Right Travel Choice  consultation in 2022, the North East Transport Plan consultation in 2021 as well as the North East Combined Authority’s Walking and Cycling Survey   in 2017.

SPACE for Gosforth supports well-evidenced interventions to enable more people to walk, wheel or cycle more often. Being enabled to travel actively also enables people to access local services and job opportunities, save money and improve their health, which has a wide range of positive impacts both for the individual and the wider economy.

As can be seen by the dates on the consultations to which we have already responded, time is of the essence.   Six years have already passed since the North East combined Authority’s Walking and Cycling Survey.   Given that children who started school six years ago, will have now moved to middle school and will be leaving school in 2031, some urgency to realise the benefits of active travel for this generation is essential.

Summary of Key Points from our response

Objectives The strategy needs to be clear if it is solely to increase active travel journeys or if it is targeting a modal switch from driving to active travel. Targets and actions to be taken should reflect this, and should be based on the best available evidence for what is effective to achieve the desired outcomes.

Other regional planning will need to align to these objectives, e.g. to avoid major road expansion schemes that will create severance, lead to additional journeys by car and consequently more emissions.

Targets We support the target to increase active travel to be 54% of all journeys under 5 miles in the NE, which assumes a corresponding decrease in short vehicle journeys.  

Monitoring “direction of travel” however, is not sufficient and doesn’t support achievement of the 2035 target. Interim targets e.g. 45% by 2026, 50% by 2030, should be added for tracking purposes, along with LA-specific targets for specific initiatives like school streets, low-traffic neighbourhoods and LTN1/20 compliant protected cycle lanes.

The Vision Zero target in the NE Transport Plan should also be included in this strategy.

Governance The context should set out clearly the different roles and responsibilities of Transport North East and Local Authorities in delivering this strategy, and what will happen if interim targets are not met.  

Barriers The strategy needs to recognise that while there are a number of barriers, the main barrier for achieving the desired modal switch relates to safety and that interventions to address this need to be given the highest priority. Other initiatives e.g. cycle hire and behaviour change should be focused where there are safe routes people can use.

Funding The strategy needs to demonstrate clearly that the schemes proposed, and level of funding requested, will ensure delivery of the strategy objectives. Currently there is little in the strategy to provide confidence this is the case.

Detail Comments by section of the draft strategy

Executive Summary

The executive summary needs to include an inspiring and relatable vision for what this strategy will mean for where people live and how they may travel in future.  

We suggest it also covers the points raised in our “summary of key points” above.  

We suggest the statement “This would mean that over half of journeys in the North East would be made by active travel.” is amended to “This would mean that, if there is a corresponding decrease in vehicle journeys , over half of all journeys under five miles in the North East would be made by active travel.”

Section 1. Introduction and Context

We support the inclusion of ‘micromobility’ in the strategy. We consider this inevitable and that Transport North East should be preparing for this now to plan for a comprehensive combined cycling / low-speed micro-mobility network.

Strategy Scope should set out how the corresponding decrease in vehicle travel will be achieved, whether it is part of the active travel strategy or something separate.

The context should also set out the different roles and responsibilities of Transport North East and Local Authorities in delivering this strategy, and confirm the process and steps to be taken by each Local Authority to commit to the strategy once the NE Joint Transport Committee has recommended approval.

Section 2. Benefits of Active Travel

Walking and cycling are highly efficient ways to travel that benefit personal health, allow access to local services and job opportunities, and achieve that without any pollution, carbon emissions.

Additional benefits you may wish to consider include:

• Walking and cycling routes have much greater capacity to move people, goods and services per meter width than private vehicles.  
• Benefits for accessibility and inclusion.
• Benefits for children’s independence.
• Potential to reduce commuting time for parents if children are able to travel independently to school once they begin middle school (Year 5)
• Reduced cost and better value for money compared to large road schemes.  
• Enabling low cost travel for individuals and families
• Increased productivity & fewer sick days at work due to health benefits.
• Increased usage of public transport through enabling cycling to local transport hubs
• Energy security – less reliance on oil imports
• Addressing physical inactivity. A British Heart Foundation Physical Activity Report in 2017 identified that 42% of adults in the North East are classed as being inactive. 
• Increased community cohesion.

Further information and links can be found in our 2017 blog “The Case for Healthy Streets” https://www.spaceforgosforth.com/cwis2017/

Some of the benefits outlined in the strategy are related to, and would require a reduction in traffic, rather than an increase in walking, cycling and wheeling.   These include

• Reducing carbon emissions, potentially saving around 80,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
• Improving air quality by reducing pollution from traffic emissions.
• Reducing noise levels as congestion is eased on our road network.
• Saving petrol and diesel car drivers on average approximately £70 per year (based on September 2022 fuel prices).

As is mentioned in a later section, whether or not traffic reduction will be achieved without other interventions restricting traffic is questionable.   Particularly the benefit of reduced carbon emissions is somewhat overshadowed given the traffic schemes identified in the North East Transport Plan.  

For example, National Highways estimate that the proposed A1 dualling from Morpeth to Ellingham alone will result in an additional 1.4 million tonnes of CO2e to be emitted. That is 17.5 years of active travel benefits wiped out on one short section of road alone.

To convince both our leaders and the public that this strategy is valuable, the benefits must be meaningful and directly related to the objectives of the Active Travel strategy.  

Section 3. How do people travel now?

No comments

Section 4. What are the Challenges?

The strategy needs to recognise that while there are a number of barriers, the main barrier for achieving the desired modal switch relates to safety and that interventions to address this need to be given the highest priority.

Other initiatives e.g. cycle hire and behaviour change should only be implemented where there are safe routes people can use.

Another potential challenge is simply political will to implement the changes. Transport North East could this assist by ensuring transport leads and other Councillors are well briefed on best practice for community engagement and case studies of where previous implementations have been effective.

Section 5. Where Do We Want to be?

We believe a more inspiring and relatable picture of the outcomes would be useful in selling this strategy both to the general public, their elected officials and for gaining real political commitment from the members of the Joint Transport Committee and the future North East metro mayor.

Change is not always welcomed, and the implementation of changes to neighbourhoods at a local level as well as the introduction of a number of schemes during the pandemic has been at times controversial.   However, it is also true that on the whole, councils who were bold with the changes that they have implemented have been re-elected, showing   a quiet support beneath the headlines and outrage.

An inspirational vision in this section of the strategy is important to ensure it does not simply remain a tick box exercise.   While statements such as “Negative perceptions of active travel will have been addressed through various initiatives such as promotional campaigns” may allow specific commitments that enable you to reach this point to be identified, it is not the most vibrant imagining of the future!

What will streets look and feel like for everyone: young and old, urban and rural?   What opportunities will there be?   What will our towns, cities and villages look like if your commitment statements are met?

Similar to the “Changes You Will Start To See” section in the North East Transport plan, this section would be enhanced by a more vivid description of what positive day to day differences we will notice should the strategy be successful.

Section 6. Measures of Success

“We propose to monitor success against our vision by… (the) available National Travel Survey (NTS) data to monitor our progress and understand relevant travel patterns in our region.”

While the Executive Summary highlights that “Walking is a good way to increase levels of activity and has the greatest potential to improve public health” the supporting data shows that almost 80% of trips of 1 mile or less are already walked.   While there may be some scope to increase these, the data implies that a great deal of willingness to walk short distances already exists.

For journeys of 1-2 miles or longer, this figure decreases as could be expected simply due to increased time pressures for trips where the purpose is not simply exercise.   The implication, therefore, is that the greater opportunity to convert journeys to active travel is to enable more cycling and micro-mobility.   That is not to say that there is not a great deal to be done to improve the environment for walking, only that those improvements may not be a major contributor to achieving the overarching target.

From the data on which the target is based, if half of a 45% increase in active travel trips were from increased cycling this would result in a cycling mode share of ~7%.   From research by Rahul Goel et al   it is noted that “In almost all geographies with cycling mode share greater than 7% women made as many cycle trips as men, and sometimes even greater.”

We suggest that when seeking “methods… to give us a greater understanding of active travel in our region and more accurately assess our position against our goals.” that targeting research on the gender distribution in cycling in the region would assist in assessing progress against the target.

We are also concerned that in having a single target based on a quantitative analysis that the majority of effort will be aimed at schemes perceived to support the greatest gains in terms of modal switch.   Without targets or even monitoring for other demographics such as disability, age, ethnic background and income, it will be difficult to ensure the inclusivity of the implementation of the strategy.   While the strategy mentions that “When monitoring the Key Performance

Indicators, we will also, where possible, seek to analyse and monitor inequalities in transport and health”, none of the Transport Plan’s Key Performance Indicators mention inequality, even though one of the five objectives of the Transport Plan is “Overcome inequality and grow our economy.”   “Where possible” is not a sufficient commitment to ensuring the strategy is inclusive.

There needs to be a clear commitment to ensuring that the Active Travel Strategy is inclusive by monitoring inequalities and targeting schemes accordingly.

We believe it is also important to develop a clear picture of the contributions of each Local Authority towards the final target and how that increases over time.   As the strategy explains “According to the 2021 Census, our region has a population of 1.97 million with 79% of people living in urban locations and 21% living in rural locations.”   With the very different geography and challenges of each Local Authority, individual targets would ensure that overall the final target remains achievable.

While the regional overview provided by this strategy is important, it is essential that political leaders across the region commit to specific time-bound targets defined to ensure the strategy is successful.  

Section 7. How Do We Get There?

“The plan sets out a live programme of interventions… All schemes will be subject to more rigorous testing and appraisal and will only be delivered where they have demonstrated, through detailed business case development, that they can appropriately contribute towards the delivery of the objectives.”

While the interventions themselves are positive, there is little in the strategy that gives us confidence that  

• the combined total of these interventions will achieve the target to increase active travel by 45%  
• sufficient consideration has been given on how to achieve the necessary pace and urgency to provide safe walking and cycling networks, taking account of the fact that any modal shift will occur over a period of years after delivery of those networks.
• the level of funding requested is anywhere near sufficient (Greater Manchester estimated £1.5bn would be required for a smaller area).
• large parts of the funding won’t be diverted to pay for unrelated road changes or to mitigate safety issues created by road building e.g. demolishing the Gateshead flyover, or paying for underpasses or bridges which should be included in road or rail budgets.  

The strategy then states “this programme will be delivered by the constituent authorities and Nexus within the North East”.   This underlines the key role of the commitment of the Local Authorities within the region.   However, many of the interventions identified are large scale and long-term.   Within the Commitment Statements identified, there are a number of relatively quick, repeatable and cheap interventions that can make significant differences to the quality of the walking, wheeling and cycling environment.   These should be supported by specific targets that individual Local Authorities commit to.

For example:

• Eg: All LAs formally adopt LTN1/20 as standard by the end of 2023 for all road schemes, not just those designated as relating to walking or cycling.
• 50% primary and first schools have school streets by 2025
• Removal of non-compliant barriers on walking and cycling infrastructure by 2025 with a clear method of reporting to local authorities.
• A clear approach to how pavement parking will be addressed and how the public can report where pavements are partially or completely blocked by end 2023.
• A plan for cutting wait-times at pedestrian crossings with trial sites implemented by the end of 2024.

Further targets might include:

• Improving rural safety by reducing speed limits on rural roads not part of the strategic transport network to 40mph
• LA objectives in place and initial LCWIPs complete by end 2023 including identified quick wins for walking and cycling e.g. contraflow cycling, some simple modal filters, speed limits, pavement clutter audits, cycle parking etc
• Key local walking/cycling destinations identified in LCWIP including local shopping districts and transport hubs.
• Confirmation that local shopping areas should be designed to the highest standards of safety and accessibility for walking and cycling in line with the motion adopted by Newcastle City Council for Gosforth High Street in November 2022.

The strategy should also better define what the ‘Regional Cycle Network’ is e.g. does it refer to the National Cycle Network, which is great for longer daytime leisure rides but less use for day to day travel, or will it enable local and intra-regional trips serving major housing areas and key destinations? We also suggest an outline plan for this network be completed by March 2024. There is no reason why this should wait to 2029-2035 as set out in the strategy.  

These measures would need to take account of who is responsible and confirm the process for each LA to develop targets in line with the key commitments in the strategy.

These targets can then be tracked against delivery as well as outcomes, for example number of school streets delivered or miles of continuous, protected cycle lane.

We propose that alongside the current long-term programme of interventions that there is developed a series of short-term “quick wins” for implementation by local authorities, with a clear process and timeline for review.   This will both ensure that the foundations of the strategy are secure as well as providing visible short-term changes to maintain public support.

The North East Transport Plan details as part of its Active Travel Strategy “a significant programme of road space reallocation” by 2030 yet this has not been mentioned of explicitly referred to within the Active Travel Strategy other than brief mention within the Commitment Statements of “We will support and work with local partners to increase the number of… low traffic neighbourhoods.”

The recent Making the Right Travel Choice strategy outlined a target to encourage car users to “switch one journey a week to public transport, walking or cycling and for people who don’t have access to a car to continue to travel sustainably.”

Assuming that by “one journey” what is meant is one return journey or two trips*, we would first like to note the current data shows that this strategy will only work firstly if all of those journeys have active travel as their main mode (as defined by the National Travel Survey main mode of a trip is that used for the longest stage of the trip by distance) of and there is a corresponding decrease in car journeys as a proportion of all journeys under 5 miles in the next 12 years.

Nowhere does the strategy explicitly state how traffic will be reduced other than an assumption that people will only switch mode from car to active travel.   While this may occur, it is unlikely to result in fewer overall car journeys as research has shown that people adapt their behaviour according to prevailing road conditions.   One result of quieter, less congested roads means that people may choose to make additional journeys by car that they would not have previously considered.

Given that it is specifically mentioned within the NE Transport Plan, the omission of the “significant programme of road space reallocation” needs to be addressed within the Active Travel strategy.

The other major omission in the Active Travel Strategy is the commitment set out in the NE Transport Plan published March 2021 to “no fatalities or serious injuries on the regions’ road network by 2025.” Given there were 39 deaths and 620 serious injuries recorded on the region’s roads in 2023, this is looking increasingly out of reach.  

Transport North East should take urgent action to address the large number of people killed and seriously injured (KSI) on the region’s roads and, in addition, seek to understand why KSIs haven’t reduced in line with its target to incorporate any lessons learned into future strategies including the active travel strategy.

END of Response

*Making the Right Travel Choice referred to 200 million journeys which is approximately equal to 2 trips per week x 52 weeks of the year x 1.97 million population in the North East.

Manchester 2018: £1.5bn over 10 years – 1000 miles of active travel routes. NE 2022: £500m over 13 years – bike hire & demolish a flyover. https://t.co/jXyAnLlFJj — space for gosforth (@space4gosforth) December 16, 2022

This may also interest you...

•   NECA Walking and Cycling Survey
•   North East Transport Plan Consultation – January 2021
•   Making the Right Travel Choice
•   Transport for the North – Decarbonising Transport
•   Transport For The North – responses due by 17 April
•   Join SPACE for Gosforth

Recommended

About us | Advertise with us | Contact us

New measures installed to improve active travel in Heaton, Newcastle

• Odnoklassniki
• Facebook Messenger
• LiveJournal

Posted: 1 December 2022 | Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

The new low traffic measures in Heaton will encourage more people to walk, cycle and wheel on local journeys, improving air quality and creating much safer, people-friendly neighbourhoods.

Credit: Newcastle City Council

Newcastle City Council has announced that new low traffic measures have been installed in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, in order to reduce congestion and improve active travel in the neighbourhoods. This follows on from a similar scheme which had been implemented in Fenham in March 2022.

Using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), Newcastle City Council is trialling the closure of a number of streets to motor vehicles that will help to make them safer and easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle on.

The measures include closures to motor vehicles on  Bolingbroke Street, Cardigan Terrace, Heaton Park View and Falmouth Road.  Double yellow lines on Stannington Avenue to prevent inconsiderate parking will be introduced, as well as changes to Stratford Road to improve safety by changing priority at this junction.  

The trial measures also link up with the School Street scheme at Hotspur Primary School, as well as the cycle lane on Heaton Road, providing good quality and safe walking and wheeling routes in the local area.

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone to be expanded to all boroughs

“The changes in Heaton will create safer, cleaner, greener and more people-friendly neighbourhoods. The scheme we are implementing is based on feedback from the public and tackles issues people raised,” said Councillor Jane Byrne, Cabinet Member for a Connected, Clean City. “With less traffic cutting through local streets, neighbourhoods become much safer and better for the people living there. It also encourages people to walk and cycle on local journeys, which has a big impact on people’s health and wellbeing, improves air quality, as well as greatly improving safety for children getting around their local area, which is why we’ll be rolling this programme out to further areas of the city.”

The changes can remain in place for up to 18 months, with public consultation running until 23 April 2023. Feedback from the consultation will be reviewed alongside data collected, to determine whether the scheme should be made permanent.

In order to complement the trial, the council has proposed to make further changes in the area, including an improved pedestrian crossing on Heaton Park Road, as well as access improvements for emergency vehicles and refuse collections to back lanes through new sections of double yellow lines. These are permanent measures, which are subject to further statutory engagement, which will follow on in early 2023.

If you liked this, you may also be interested in: 

▶ Nottingham’s e-scooter trial to continue until May 2024

▶ New funding announced to boost active travel across West Yorkshire

Related topics Air Quality , Mobility Services , Passenger Experience , Sustainable Urban Transport

Related modes Bikes & Scooters

Related cities Newcastle

Related countries United Kingdom

Related organisations Newcastle City Council

Related people Jane Byrne

The future of transport is here: how Worcestershire combines DRT, Planning, and MaaS

Arriva awarded West Brabant contract in The Netherlands

By Intelligent Transport

Tomorrow.Mobility charts a path to a better future with green and smart transportation

Dublin Bus announces completion of charging infrastructure for green fleet

Arriva UK Bus expands London operations with two new contracts

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

© Russell Publishing Limited , 2010-2024. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Website design and development by e-Motive Media Limited .

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For our other types of cookies "Advertising & Targeting", "Analytics" and "Performance", these help us analyse and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these different types of cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You can adjust the available sliders to 'Enabled' or 'Disabled', then click 'Save and Accept'. View our Cookie Policy page.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Performance cookies are includes cookies that deliver enhanced functionalities of the website, such as caching. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Analytics cookies collect information about your use of the content, and in combination with previously collected information, are used to measure, understand, and report on your usage of this website.

Advertising and targeting cookies help us provide our visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns.

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Driving and road transport
• Cycling and walking

Active Travel England update

Announcing senior leadership appointments for Active Travel England.

I am pleased to announce further progress standing up Active Travel England, the new executive agency which will help deliver this government’s £2 billion commitment to active travel and creating a new golden age of walking and cycling.

A number of senior leadership appointments have now been made for Active Travel England. Chris Boardman MBE has been confirmed as England’s National Active Travel Commissioner on a permanent basis.

After his appointment as the Interim Commissioner at the start of the year, he will continue to lead Active Travel England and chair the Interim Board which has now been established.

The Department for Transport ( DfT ) expects to be able to confirm shortly the appointment of Danny Williams as Active Travel England’s Chief Executive, who will be starting full time in August.

He will bring a wealth of experience to the role from successfully setting up and growing both large and start-up businesses and from his dedicated campaigning for improving walking and cycling provision.

Louise Wilkinson has been appointed as Active Travel England’s Chief Operating Officer. She has a successful career in financial management for the Civil Service and local government and has most recently been a Finance Deputy Director in the Cabinet Office.

The department expects to confirm shortly the appointment of Graham Grant as its Director of Planning. He was until recently the Assistant Director of Transport at Newcastle City Council.

Brian Deegan has also started as the Director of Inspections. He has successfully developed and delivered street designs for improving active travel in Greater Manchester and London and will work with local authorities to design high-quality schemes. A small number of DfT employees will also transfer to the new body.

Despite only having a handful of officers in place – Active Travel England has already started to deliver significant benefits, in line with the Gear Change commitment to deliver a step-change in the quality of walking and cycling infrastructure.

It has assessed and awarded £161 million of funding for 134 Active Travel Fund projects , announced on 14 May 2022, which will deliver high-quality schemes in 46 authorities in England, outside London. This early work will enable 16 million extra cycling and walking journeys to take place each year.

It has also developed a suite of tools that will help local active travel projects deliver high-quality infrastructure and it has delivered training and engagement events for local authorities. Its work will significantly improve value for money of cycling and walking schemes.

Improved active travel provision has many benefits. It will play an important role in improving the health of the nation by reducing physical inactivity and it is vital to the government’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 . Better walking and cycling provision will also help make local areas greener, healthier and better places to live.

Related Active Travel England announcements

• Chris Boardman named permanent National Active Travel Commissioner alongside other senior Active Travel England appointments news story, published 28 June 2022

Is this page useful?

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

See InYourArea in ...

Local news by email.

Your postcode is used to send you relevant local updates. Your details will NOT be shared with any 3rd parties.

Many thanks for joining us at InYourArea

Active travel scheme launched to boost health and wellbeing

As part of the launch, INTO is hosting a 12-week ‘Walk into Winter’ programme, to help people improve their physical health, get active and boost their steps over the next few months

By Saffron Jenkins

GREAT NEWS: INTO team (L-R) Anthony Harley, Charlotte Rowles, Vicky Dale and Joe Matthews

A new active travel scheme to encourage more people to get into walking and cycling in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has been launched by Staffordshire County Council. Funded by Active Travel England, the Inspiring New Travel Options (INTO) initiative. aims to get adults into active travel to improve their health and wellbeing.

The scheme aims to support adults living with long-term and life limiting health conditions, poor mental health and learning disabilities to get involved in walking and cycling programmes to improve their physical and mental health. The INTO team hosts a variety of free and fun activities to improve the health and well-being of adults across the district.

Activities include coach-led walks, bike rides, training and one-to-one sessions at popular beauty spots in Knutton, Cross Heath, Silverdale, Parkside, Town and Holditch. One-to-one walking and cycling sessions are available to adults living with long-term health conditions and each tailored to different levels of physical ability to suit  each participant.

• Five smart ways to keep your home warm and energy costs down this winter
• Love your leftovers with five meals made from food in your fridge

As part of the launch, INTO is hosting a 12-week ‘Walk into Winter’ programme, to help people improve their physical health, get active and boost their steps over the next few months. The programme is open to all adults in Newcastle-under-Lyme and will take place at Apedale Country Park, every Friday morning at 10am starting on October 6 and will run until December 22.

David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council said: “The INTO scheme is a fantastic initiative to support adults  across Newcastle to boost their health and wellbeing. We already know keeping active is important for our physical health, but it's also vital for mental health.

“I’m pleased to see the team already making an  impact, getting people outdoors and improving the daily lives of people across the borough.”

To take part in the programme and to find out more about the INTO scheme visit

• How to create a low-cost, low-maintenance garden with maximum impact
• Inheritance tax criticised as 'punitive' and 'unfair' by minister amidst potential reforms
• Halloween decorations to suit all budgets, from spooky skeletons to upside-down witch legs

Daily Email Updates

Updates in your area sent directly to your email inbox

Grow your business with us

We connect you with the people and communities that matter to your business

Find local services

Search for trusted local businesses near you

See news and info near you

• Active Travel
• Bonded Rubber Mulch
• Resin Bound Gravel
• Artificial Grass

Outdoor Surfacing Painting

• Thermoplastic Markings
• Active Travel Funding
• The Benefits of Active Travel
• Exploring Different Types of Active Travel
• What is Active Travel in the UK?
• Cost of Active Travel
• Tips for Staying Safe While Active Traveling
• What is Active Travel Funding?
• Where is Active Travel England Based?
• Types of Walkway Markings for Active Travel
• Cycle Routes for Active Travel
• The Environmental Impact of Active Travel
• What is the Active Travel Act in England?
• Safety Considerations for Active Travel
• Examples of Active Travel
• What is the Active Travel Directory?
• What is the Active Travel England Travel Plan?
• The Mental and Physical Benefits of Active Travel

Rhino Pave For Active Travel in Newcastle

We are a leading outdoor surfacing company that specialises in Rhino Pave surfacing in the UK. Our company provides RhinoPave surfacing, which can be used in a range of applications, from playground surfacing to domestic gardens.

Our Newcastle RhinoPave surfacing is available to be used as pathways and safety surfacing in outdoor areas across the country.

This Rhino Pave surface is made using a combination of natural stone and rubber granules to create a flexible, soft tarmac.

If you are interested in Rhino Pave surfacing and want to improve your outdoor space, then you have come to the right place. Contact our team today to learn more about what we can offer you.

CONTACT US]

Rhino Pave Cost for Active Travel Newcastle

The average cost of Rhino Pave surfacing for active travel is between £48-£100 per metre square.

The cost of Rhino Pave will vary depending on the size of the project, location, access and what other work is involved.

There is incentive schemes in place and funding available to encourage active travel .

Contact our team today for a quote!

Where is Rhino Pave Installed for Active Travel?

Rhino Paving for active travel can be used in various contexts and situations to create safe and accessible pathways for pedestrians and cyclists. Here are some common scenarios where paving is suitable for active travel :

Sidewalks: Paved sidewalks are essential in urban and suburban areas to provide safe paths for pedestrians. They are typically located alongside roads and streets and should be designed to meet accessibility standards.

Bike Lanes: Paved bike lanes are designated lanes on the road or separate pathways exclusively for cyclists. They enhance safety for cyclists and encourage active commuting.

Pedestrian Routes: In public spaces, town centres, or recreational areas, paving can be used to create pedestrian plazas or squares that encourage walking and social interaction.

Shared-Use Paths: Paved paths that accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists are often used in parks, along riverbanks, and as recreational trails.

School Walkways: Paving can be used around schools to create safe routes for students walking or cycling to school, reducing the need for car transportation.

Transportation Hubs: Paved pathways leading to and from transportation hubs such as bus stops, train stations, and ferry terminals facilitate active travel for commuters.

Commercial Areas: Paving in commercial districts can create a pedestrian-friendly environment, encouraging people to walk and shop locally.

Tourist Areas: Paving is often used in tourist destinations to create scenic walking and cycling routes, promoting active exploration of the area.

Urban Greenways: Paved urban greenways or linear parks can provide a pleasant and safe route for active travel within cities.

Accessibility Upgrades: Paving is used to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities, including the installation of curb ramps, crosswalks, and tactile paving.

Recreation Trails: Paved recreational trails in natural settings, like forests or along coastlines, can offer stunning landscapes for cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy.

Residential Communities: Paved pathways within residential neighbourhoods can encourage residents to walk or bike for short trips to nearby amenities.

Healthcare Facilities: Paving can be used to create accessible paths to and within healthcare facilities, ensuring easy access for patients and visitors.

Industrial Areas: In industrial zones, paving can provide safe routes for employees to walk or cycle between workstations and facilities.

When planning and implementing paving for active travel, it's crucial to consider factors like safety, accessibility, maintenance, and community needs.

The specific design and location of paved pathways should align with the unique requirements of the area and the goals of promoting active transportation.

Additionally, complying with local regulations and accessibility standards is essential to ensure that the infrastructure is inclusive and usable by everyone.

FIND OUT MORE]

Benefits of Rhino Pave Surfacing for Active Travel

Rhino Pave surfacing, particularly when applied to active travel infrastructure like sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways, offers several benefits that enhance safety, accessibility, and overall usability. Here are some of the advantages of using pave surfacing for active travel:

Improved Safety: RhinoPave surfacing provides a smooth and even surface, reducing tripping hazards and the risk of accidents, particularly for pedestrians, cyclists, and those with mobility challenges.

Accessibility: Rhino Pave surfacing is typically designed to meet accessibility standards, making it easier for people with disabilities to navigate. Features such as curb cuts, tactile paving, and gradual slopes can be incorporated into the design.

Durability: Well-constructed Rhino Pave surfaces are durable and can withstand heavy foot and bicycle traffic, as well as exposure to weather conditions. They require less maintenance compared to alternative surfaces like gravel or dirt paths.

All-Weather Use: RhinoPave surfacing allows for year-round use, even in inclement weather. It doesn't become muddy or slippery when it rains, ensuring that active travel can continue regardless of the weather.

Increased Use: People are more likely to engage in active travel, such as walking or cycling, when they have access to safe and comfortable paved pathways. This can lead to higher levels of physical activity, reducing the reliance on motor vehicles and promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Aesthetic Appeal: Rhino Paved surfaces can be aesthetically pleasing, especially when designed with landscaping and greenery. They can enhance the overall visual appeal of an area, making it more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists.

Efficiency: Paved pathways often provide more direct and efficient routes, which can save time for those using active travel modes. This can encourage more people to choose walking or cycling over driving for short trips.

Environmental Benefits: Promoting active travel through rhino paved pathways can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the number of car trips. This contributes to cleaner air and a smaller carbon footprint for communities.

Economic Benefits: Well-maintained pave surfacing can increase property values and attract businesses to the area. It can also reduce healthcare costs by promoting physical activity and healthier lifestyles.

Safety for Children: Paved paths make it safer for children to walk or bike to school, encouraging active transportation and reducing the reliance on school buses or car rides.

Community Connectivity: Paved pathways can connect neighbourhoods, parks, schools, and other destinations, fostering a sense of community and making it easier for people to access essential services and recreational areas without relying on motor vehicles.

Tourism and Recreation: In areas with scenic beauty or tourist attractions, paved pathways can attract tourists and recreational users, benefiting local economies.

SPEAK TO US

What are the Benefits of Rhino Pave Surfacing?

Low-maintenance

Made from natural and recycled products

All-weather surface

What is Rhino Pave Surfacing?

Rhino Pave is a type of surface which is made from a mix of rubber and aggregates.

It is a single layered system which is usually laid over a compacted MOT Type 1 stone sub base.

Rhino Pave is a hard-wearing and durable surface that can be used all year round. Rhino Pave is a great surface for pathways, pedestrian routes and cycle paths.

We are a leading Newcastle company in surfacing installation and offer flexible flooring for outdoor applications.

Rhino Pave Specification

Rhino Pave surfacing Newcastle is constructed from an SBR rubber and aggregate mix, bound together with a high tensile binder to create a firm but also flexible surface.

Rhino Pave is also known as an eco friendly pathway surface, as it is made from using recycled rubber, mixed with stone and then a resin binder.

The standard depth of Rhino Pave surfacing is 35mm.

If you are interested in this type of surface, then please get in touch with our team. Contact the Newcastle team today to see how we can help.

GET A QUOTE

Rhino Pave Maintenance Newcastle

Rhino Pave is a low maintenance surface but to keep the surface in the best condition, it is recommended to check the surface for any damage and try and keep the surface free of debris.

To learn more, do not hesitate to get in touch with the team today and see how we can help.

Other Services We Offer:

Rubber Mulch for Active Travel

Wetpour for Active Travel

Resin Bound Gravel Active Travel

Artificial Grass for Active Travel

Thermoplastic Markings for Active Travel

Get In Touch Today

Rhino Pave flooring is a versatile and durable option for a range of outdoor areas.

As a leading Newcastle Rhino Pave surfacing company, we provide these solutions to a range of clients across the UK and can help improve playground safety.

Contact our team today to learn more.

ENQUIRE TODAY

Searches Associated with Rhino Pave for Active Travel

Rhino Pave Installers in Newcastle

Voted Best Rhino Pave Company in April 2024

Newcastle Rhino Pave Contractors

Best Newcastle Rhino Pave Companies

Rhino Pave Company Near Me

Best Rhino Pave Specialists Near Me

We cover Newcastle (Monmouthshire)

Get a quick quote

We aim to get back to you in 1 working day.

• Active Travel in Newcastle
• Rhino Pave in Newcastle
• Bonded Rubber Mulch in Newcastle
• Wetpour in Newcastle
• Resin Bound Gravel in Newcastle
• Artificial Grass in Newcastle
• Outdoor Surfacing Painting in Newcastle
• Thermoplastic Markings in Newcastle
• Funding in Newcastle

Legal information

Social links.

Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Ashworth and Japan – explaining Newcastle’s week

Perhaps the nature of Newcastle United’s limp 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Wednesday night has helped ensure the St James’ Park agenda has focused away from on-field matters, but this has been a very newsy week, even by the Tyneside club’s standards.

There have been updates on Bruno Guimaraes’ future, the sporting director search, Dan Ashworth’s protracted defection to Manchester United , summer transfer window plans and pre-season proposals.

Here,  The Athletic outlines what those developments have been and explains what they mean for Newcastle ’s potential incomings and outgoings from the squad…

Is the power in Newcastle’s hands when it comes to Guimaraes?

Eddie Howe, the head coach, has now confirmed publicly that the £100million ($124.9m at the current exchange rate) release clause in Guimaraes’ contract is only active until June 30 . The message coming from Newcastle is that they will not entertain offers below that figure and, in theory, perhaps they will demand more than £100m come July or August.

Advertisement

Given the cut-off for the top flight’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) is also June 30 — the Premier League works on a July to June timeframe for annual accounts — this appears to work in Newcastle’s favour.

PSR limitations may have restricted Newcastle’s business over the past few windows, but the same is true of a significant number of top-flight clubs. And, while anyone buying Guimaraes could amortise the £100million cost over five years — meaning it could be spread over the length of a contract and would only go down as a £20m annual fee — it still represents a massive financial outlay, even given how highly the Brazil international is rated.

Howe outlining the parameters of the clause (and its mere existence) does provide some clarity for Newcastle fans, but it does not mean that Guimaraes is guaranteed to stay next season if he is still under contract on Tyneside come July 1. It protects the club and may deter potential suitors — who include Arsenal , Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain — but the midfielder’s ambitions and Newcastle’s own need to generate PSR headroom by selling players means this story is not going to disappear.

There are those around the club already speculating about why the information around the clause expiring on June 30 leaked out yesterday (Thursday) — before Howe confirmed it — and clearly at least one of the parties involved felt it was in their interests for it to become public.

To become elite, Newcastle must evolve

What is happening with Dan Ashworth’s protracted exit?

The Ashworth situation remains unresolved — not only is he still employed, and being paid, by Newcastle, he is set to take the club to arbitration.

Manchester United’s public pursuit of Ashworth throughout December and January eventually led to the 53-year-old being placed on gardening leave in February, once he had informed Newcastle of the approach from their Premier League rivals. Since then, negotiations have taken place between the clubs over potential compensation, with Newcastle seeking as much as £20million for their sporting director, and Manchester United reportedly offering just a 10th of that.

Amanda Staveley, the Newcastle director, met Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United’s new co-owner, earlier this month in an attempt to break the impasse, but no agreement has been reached.

Now, David Ornstein has exclusively reported on  The Athletic that Ashworth is taking the club to arbitration next month.

The process may not actually get to that stage, as mediation is the likely next step, and a settlement could be reached before arbitration takes place, but that is currently where Ashworth and Newcastle are heading.

Are Newcastle any closer to naming Ashworth’s successor?

The mood music surrounding the sporting director position at Newcastle has changed significantly over the past two months. Whereas Ashworth’s role was almost underplayed when his exit to Old Trafford became inevitable, Howe is now describing his successor as “an absolutely key appointment”.

“My preference would be that they were here yesterday,” Howe replied, when asked by  The Athletic whether a sporting director was required before the summer. Having doubled up as head coach and almost de facto director of football during the January window in 2022, Howe does not want to experience that again this year.

Odgers Berndtson, the recruitment firm, has been sourcing potential candidates and is believed to have narrowed down a shortlist. Dougie Freedman, Palace’s sporting director, is among those to have reached the latter stages of that process.

Final interviews are expected to take place in the coming weeks. However that is complicated by Yasir Al Rumayyan, Newcastle’s chairman, and the need to find space in his busy diary.

There have been internal debates about whether Newcastle’s new sporting director requires Premier League experience — which Freedman obviously has — and what precise characteristics are being sought for the role. Howe has not been involved in the search and, while the head coach declared in February that he wanted to express his views on what Newcastle should be looking for in a sporting director, he is yet to discuss that with the hierarchy.

“If the club wanted to seek my opinion, I’d be more than happy to do that,” Howe said. “That hasn’t happened to this point and I respect and understand that. But it’s a big appointment for us. We have to try and get it right. We have to work really closely with whoever it is to take the team forward and make good decisions for the future of the club.”

For Howe, having a sporting director in place ahead of a “really interesting transfer window coming up” is of the utmost importance.

The summer window, PSR and what Newcastle can do…

Howe may have described the looming summer window as “interesting”, but “complicated” is the word which is regularly heard behind the scenes at Newcastle .

Alongside attempting to retain Guimaraes and striker Alexander Isak , Newcastle must find a way to generate funds, as well as improve their squad while staying within PSR constraints.

Losing defenders Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles to long-term ACL knee injuries added another layer of complexity to the business Newcastle must conduct but, following midfielder Joelinton’s contract extension , Howe insists he now has a clear vision of the surgery he hopes to conduct on his squad during the off-season.

“I want to make minimal changes but changes that can transport us forward,” Howe said. “We have to be really smart with our recruitment; maybe slightly different to some of the other clubs we’re in and around (in the table), as financially I’m not sure we’re able to recruit ready-made, elite players.”

It is quite the in-tray for an incoming sporting director…

An unexpected pre-season destination?

A return to the United States was explored following last summer’s tour there, while training camps in Europe have also been proposed, yet reports in Japan suggest that East Asia will be Newcastle’s pre-season destination this year.

J-League sides Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F Marinos are being lined up as potential opponents, although the club are yet to confirm the tour.

Evidently, the rationale behind going to Japan would be to boost commercial revenues, which aids PSR, and to further expand Newcastle’s global appeal. Those justifications have been provided for the post-season trip to Australia next month, when they will play two games against Tottenham Hotspur and a domestic league all-star XI in Melbourne during the week immediately following their final Premier League fixture away to Brentford.

From a purely football perspective, there is little logic behind going to Australia — as Howe has admitted — and, to a lesser degree, the same is true of travelling to Japan during pre-season.

The Athletic reported earlier this month that some inside the club viewed Newcastle’s participation in last summer’s Premier League “Summer Series” in the U.S. as being the “catalyst” for a campaign ravaged by injuries. With significant travel, high-level matches against Premier League opponents and commercial commitments, it did not afford Howe and his team the ideal preparation for a long and challenging season in four competitions, including a return to the Champions League .

Admittedly, neither the travel around Japan nor the intensity of the games there should be as high as last summer, but this still does not feel like the kind of pre-season schedule that Howe would ideally choose.

The reality is that, as Newcastle look to expand their revenues in the future, such tensions between what is opportune in a footballing sense and what is necessary commercially will only increase.

Which Premier League teams are in the race for Europe and what do they need?

(Top photos: Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Chris Waugh is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering North East football and most particularly Newcastle United. Before joining The Athletic he worked for MailOnline, and then reported on NUFC for The Chronicle, The Journal and The Sunday Sun. He has covered NUFC home and away since 2015. Follow Chris on Twitter @ ChrisDHWaugh