As you hopefully all know, North Tyneside has mayoral elections on Thursday May 1st this year. There are seven candidates standing, two independents and candidates representing the Liberal Democrats, Labour, the Conservatives, the Green Party and Reform.
At the last election, in 2021, we asked all then candidates a set of questions about active travel and space for people. This year we’ve teamed up with the North Tyneside Public Transport Users Group to ask a joint set of questions about active travel and public transport.
We’ll publish all the responses we receive by the end of the day on Tuesday April 22nd on this website and on NTPTUG’s, sharing links in emails to members and on social media.
A copy of our letter, and our questions, is shared below.
If you’d like to jump straight to the candidates’ responses, you can do so here: John Appleby (Liberal Democrat); Liam Bones (Conservative); Karen Clark (Labour); Cath Davis (independent); John Falkenstein (Reform); Chloe-Louise Reilly (Green); Martin Henry Uren (independent).
Dear Candidate,
Street Life North Tyneside and the North Tyneside Public Transport User Group work together to campaign for better and more accountable local public transport and improved active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) infrastructure, to make the borough a more accessible, safer and healthier place for all residents, workers and visitors. We believe that enabling more people to reduce the use of private cars will help the borough meet its commitments to net zero and air quality, will contribute to improving residents’ physical and mental wellbeing, and will support regeneration and economic sustainability across the borough.
We are inviting all mayoral candidates to answer the following questions, by the end of the day on Tuesday 22nd April. We’ll publish all the responses we’ve received by that date on our respective websites (https://streetlifentyneside.org.uk/; https://neptug.org.uk/local-groups/north-tyneside-ptug/) with links on our social media channels.
- How will you work with the North Tyneside Transport Forum and the North Tyneside Public Transport User Group to hold Nexus and the bus companies to account if their service in North Tyneside fails to comply with the commitments of the Customer’s Charter and Bus Passenger Charter respectively?
- How will you actively support NECA’s commitment to franchising as a first step towards the municipal ownership of bus services in North Tyneside and the wider north east?
- How will you work with NECA to ensure the safety and security of women and girls on our public transport network (both on buses and metros and at bus stops and metros stations) and whilst walking, wheeling and cycling in the borough?
- Will you commit to delivering safe routes to all North Tyneside schools by 2030, creating school streets outside every possible school (first/primary, middle and high) and prioritising the provision of a high quality, safe and connected walking, wheeling and cycling network around each school?
- Will you commit to working with NECA to deliver the five top-ranked cycle routes from the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) by 2030 and to ensure appropriate provision of secure cycle parking across the borough to facilitate additional cycle journeys?
- How will you act to reduce pavement parking and other pavement hazards and obstructions (e.g. cracked pavements, bins) in North Tyneside, ensuring that those walking and wheeling can safely and easily move around the borough?
- How will you work to ensure that public transport and active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) are seamlessly connected in North Tyneside, reflecting the commitment in the recently-approved NECA Local Travel Plan?
We look forward to hearing back from you by 22nd April.
Best wishes,
North Tyneside Public Transport User Group and Street Life North Tyneside
The responses received from the candidates are listed below, in alphabetical order by surname. We did not receive a response from the Reform candidate, John Falkenstein.
Jump to John Appleby (Liberal Democrat); Liam Bones (Conservative); Karen Clark (Labour); Cath Davis (independent); John Falkenstein (Reform); Chloe-Louise Reilly (Green); Martin Henry Uren (independent).
John Appleby (Liberal Democrat)
1. How will you work with the North Tyneside Transport Forum and the North Tyneside Public Transport User Group to hold Nexus and the bus companies to account if their service in North Tyneside fails to comply with the commitments of the Customer’s Charter and Bus Passenger Charter respectively?
Firstly, I’d want regular updates on performance, and regular meetings and/or reports from the companies on why they’re not complying. Secondly, I’d explore what options and powers are open to me to oblige companies to comply, or to reduce or remove privileges from them. If no other power existed, I’d make plain to them that as well as ‘naming and shaming them’, they’d get little or no support from the Authority in any future applications for routes, facilities or funding.
2. How will you actively support NECA’s commitment to franchising as a first step towards the municipal ownership of bus services in North Tyneside and the wider north east?
I’d need to understand the rules on franchising in some detail, but since I believe it’s probable that municipal ownership of bus services is the best way forward, I’d want to study those areas where this has been done, to see the processes used and the cost implications.
3. How will you work with NECA to ensure the safety and security of women and girls on our public transport network (both on buses and metros and at bus stops and metros stations) and whilst walking, wheeling and cycling in the borough?
This is not just for NECA, but for the companies, the transport police, the police, and all the highways authorities to work together. The NECA Mayor and the PCC, as well as Northumbria Police have all given women’s safety as a priority. Public awareness, siting and lighting of bus stops, and community policing are all likely to be helpful.
4. Will you commit to delivering safe routes to all North Tyneside schools by 2030, creating school streets outside every possible school (first/primary, middle and high) and prioritising the provision of a high quality, safe and connected walking, wheeling and cycling network around each school?
This is an excellent approach, though it’s possible that it might be more difficult for some schools than others. I’m happy to commit to the principle, with every school approach improved as much as possible, and the majority at least to have established safe routes. Training of young people in safe cycling is also needed.
5. Will you commit to working with NECA to deliver the five top-ranked cycle routes from the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) by 2030 and to ensure appropriate provision of secure cycle parking across the borough to facilitate additional cycle journeys?
This should be possible, but as I’ve stated in my Address and in interviews, effective public information and consultation is vital, making the objectives clear but also offering options where appropriate to maximise public support. It’s also better to emphasise safety and health to gain support, rather than more abstract and long-term aims.
6. How will you act to reduce pavement parking and other pavement hazards and obstructions (e.g. cracked pavements, bins) in North Tyneside, ensuring that those walking and wheeling can safely and easily move around the borough?
In narrow urban streets, a ban on pavement parking is not feasible in the short-term. However, a bye-law to ensure unobstructed pavements (e.g. at least 1.5m clear width) is well-worth exploring, meaning cutting back of wide hedges as well as limiting parking to a narrow strip. Repairs to paving should also avoid the false economy of thin paving slabs.
7. How will you work to ensure that public transport and active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) are seamlessly connected in North Tyneside, reflecting the commitment in the recently-approved NECA Local Travel Plan?
NECA will lead on this aim, which I wholeheartedly support. I don’t yet know how the powers granted to regional and local authorities can be used for this purpose, but fully intend to explore this. Public involvement, interest and commitment must be sought, by emphasising health and safety, and pleasant shopping, commuting and leisure, with widespread communication and consultation.
Liam Bones (Conservative)
1. Holding Nexus and bus companies to account through the Transport Forum and Public Transport User Group
As Mayor, I would actively participate in and support the North Tyneside Transport Forum and Public Transport User Group as key voices for residents. I will ensure these forums have a formal route into the Mayor’s office and the Council’s scrutiny processes, so that concerns raised about failures to meet the Customer Charter or Bus Passenger Charter are properly logged, escalated, and actioned. I will use regular meetings with North Tyneside Public Transport User Group and Street Life North Tyneside to channel concerns and then reflect them back to senior representatives from Nexus and the bus operators and the North East Mayor.
2. Supporting NECA’s commitment to bus franchising and municipal ownership
This decision is one for the North East Mayor but as Mayor of North Tyneside I would be happy to support her to deliver this plan. As part of my plan to properly regenerate our town centres I have committed to leveraging private investment to introduce new, free hop-on bus services to our town centres, meaning no-matter where you live in the Borough you will have free access to your nearest high street. This will boost the regeneration of our town centres and give residents the reassurance they need that connectivity across our borough is vitally important to us
3. Ensuring the safety of women and girls on our transport network
Everyone should feel safe when travelling around our borough. I will work with NECA, Northumbria Police, Nexus, and women’s safety groups to improve lighting, CCTV, staffing, and emergency response at Metro stations and bus stops. As part of my plan to tackle anti-social behaviour more generally I have committed to more CCTV, including in our town centres and mobile CCTV to cover other areas where ASB is a particular issue. I have also committed to introducing ticket barriers at problem metro stations which will help make the network safer for everyone.
4. Safe routes to all schools by 2030
I am in favour of school streets and will work with officers to see them expanded to all schools as suggested.
5. Delivering the top five LCWIP cycle routes and secure cycle parking
I will review our cycling strategy and refocus active-travel investment to transform our Waggonways making journeys safer for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists by giving cyclists a roadway of their own. Cycle paths should only be built where there is support from residents that will be impacted.
6. Tackling pavement parking and obstructions
Pavement parking is a huge problem across the borough. I have already been working on securing more parking in our estates by transforming grass verges into parking spaces – this helps keep cars off the paths. I have also made clear one of the main focuses is to fix our roads and pavements which have been left in a terrible state under this Labour council. I’ll make sure repairs are permanent and not just patch up jobs.
7. Connecting public transport and active travel
I support better integration between public transport and other ways people get around – whether that’s walking to the bus stop, wheeling to the Metro, or cycling to the shops. But this has to be done with common sense and with the community’s support. Too often, residents have had cycle routes forced on them without proper consultation – causing disruption, removing parking, and actually making roads less safe. That’s not the right approach. I’ll work to make sure any plans are practical, value for money, and designed with local people’s support, not done to them.
Karen Clark (Labour)
1. How will you work with the North Tyneside Transport Forum and the North Tyneside Public Transport User Group to hold Nexus and the bus companies to account if their service in North Tyneside fails to comply with the commitments of the Customer’s Charter and Bus Passenger Charter respectively?
We will continue to work together with NTPTUG as part of the North Tyneside Transport Forum. The forum plays an important role in holding bus companies to account. However, the real thing we need to focus on to better be able to hold bus companies to account is to bring about regulated bus services through the franchising model.
2. How will you actively support NECA’s commitment to franchising as a first step towards the municipal ownership of bus services in North Tyneside and the wider north east?
Bus Reform needs to deliver an outcome where all bus and metro services are integrated so that you can plan routes more easily and buy a single ticket. Bus reform is an important passenger focussed workstream within the combined authority, involving the development of bus service delivery options to the Mayor and Cabinet. We need to ensure bus routes go to where people need them not to just where they are profitable, bus companies in 2025 receive an extraordinary amount of public funding yet customers are facing the worst bus service they’ve seen or years. Not only will I be whole heartedly behind NECA going down the franchising model, I will actively lobby the Government to make this process quicker and easier for Combined authorities to carry out.
3. How will you work with NECA to ensure the safety and security of women and girls on our public transport network (both on buses and metros and at bus stops and metros stations) and whilst walking, wheeling and cycling in the borough?
I believe it is important for everyone to feel safe when they travel, and that the specific safety needs of women and girls is integrated into our local transport plans and schemes as was the case with the North Shields Transport Hub where engagement of women in the design process led to improved safety for all. Labour in North Tyneside has a fantastic group of women Councillors for whom this issue is hugely important. Together we will look hard at all our local transport schemes and changes to public transport and make sure these projects are doing all that they should do to maximise safely of women and girls.
4. Will you commit to delivering safe routes to all North Tyneside schools by 2030, creating school streets outside every possible school (first/primary, middle and high) and prioritising the provision of a high quality, safe and connected walking, wheeling and cycling network around each school?
See one combined response to 4&5.
5. Will you commit to working with NECA to deliver the five top-ranked cycle routes from the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) by 2030 and to ensure appropriate provision of secure cycle parking across the borough to facilitate additional cycle journeys?
One combined response to 4&5:
I want to empower our communities to have a voice in shaping policy, this includes listening to children. Any Local Infrastructure Plan should be a continual process of engaging with residents, businesses and community groups. I’m committed to engaging with local people to plan transport networks at a neighbourhood level.
What the borough can do for Active Travel depends on what funding we are able to access from government. It’s difficult to commit to delivering a fixed number of “things” or “routes” and I’m not sure that’s even the best approach. I would agree that delivering a high quality safe set of facilities around schools, including more school streets, is a great way to make progress, this is something I want to see funded and something the public can get behind. Safe joined up routes into our town centres, and high quality parking are vital to our local economy. The Seafront Route is a fantastic example of Labour delivering on this, not just words, real investment. My plans include North Tyneside becoming a ‘Marmot’ borough championing the reduction in health inequalities and continuing to work towards net zero. Increased opportunities for safe walking and cycling will play an important part in delivering both of these.
6. How will you act to reduce pavement parking and other pavement hazards and obstructions (e.g. cracked pavements, bins) in North Tyneside, ensuring that those walking and wheeling can safely and easily move around the borough?
The legislative framework behind pavement parking is something that government has said it will change in this parliament, but we don’t yet know what this will look like. There are clearly some streets in North Tyneside where reducing pavement parking will be very difficult, but there are many others where this will be easier. We are committed to delivering better footway surfaces across the borough and delivering streets where wheelchair users can get around without facing poor surfacing and obstructions including parked vehicles. We have committed to spending over £56 million in the next 5 years plus an additional £2.5 million per year fixing potholes and pavements so they’re safe.
7. How will you work to ensure that public transport and active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) are seamlessly connected in North Tyneside, reflecting the commitment in the recently approved NECA Local Travel Plan?
The NECA LTP will bring together active travel, bus, Metro, rail, the Shields Ferry, and roads “under one cohesive identity, signalling that it is accessible and inclusive for all”. In North Tyneside key opportunities include the Northumberland Park Interchange and the new Shields Ferry Landing. Safer Streets, better footways and crossings near Metro Stations are things that we want to see included in a neighbourhood based approach to planning transport improvements. We will support the NECA plans to deliver better facilities and interchange to walking and cycling within stations including a regional hire scheme and better parking. We will also bring about a renewed North Tyneside Local transport plan which will be consulted on over the summer.
Cath Davis (independent)
1. How will you work with North Tyneside Transport Forum and the NTPTU Group to hold Nexus and the bus companies to account if their service in North Tyneside fails to comply with the Customers Charter and the Bus Passenger Charter respectively?
It does fail. The service we receive fails not only in the terms of the various charters the private corporations and our so called representatives (Councils) put out but more importantly, the pretense at being a service for public use. With regard to bus services, they are a absolute disgrace and useless to anyone who relies upon them to get to: work, hospitals, school, doctors, anything. The Metro is not that much better. Both need an overhaul but I would work along with then groups like PTUG and Forums to ensure the public’s voice is heard.
True democracy is what’s missing at present and that is why I am standing as an independent in this election. The current political system as operated by the Labour Party is not democratic and not responsive to the changes we need. If we look more closely, with bus services, the three operators in our region: Stagecoach, GO and Arriva are now owned by hedge funds whose primary purpose is asset stripping and certainly are not providing a public service. So why don’t the public know this? Why have our so-called political representative ie the Labour council not told us? Because they have no problem with this! That is also why bus services in our areas have been slashed or reduced when the turnover falls below a certain profit margin. I don’t know what the other candidates have told you but I do know most of the political parties are part of this, as it has been going on for years with their agreement and regardless of who you elect. That’s why I stopped representing the Labour Party as it does not represent local people, me or anyone else.
With the Tyne & Wear Metro the answer is easier, it’s been starved of finance for the necessary upgrades by both Labour and Tory governments that’s why you are being shunted around on trains that break down with frequency that means no one could rely upon it. The recent opening of the Ashington line has seen a massive uptake of people using the service, so why has it took campaigners like SENRUG (South east Northumberland Rail Users Group) over twenty years to get our so called democratic representatives to respond? Simple: they don’t serve you-I WILL.
2. How will you actively support NECA’s commitment to franchising as a first step towards municipal ownership of bus services in North Tyneside and the wider North East region?
No problem with your question as who wouldn’t given what I have written above but your questions is flawed as it supposes that our political representatives, namely regional Mayor McGuinness and Labour councils that make up NECA have public ownership ie municipal as their objective. I suggest you need to think again! Franchising is a progressive step and will lead to improvement in the management of bus services and greater integration but it will still be a bus service provided by private corporations (hedge funds) whose investors will still require a profit from their investments. Here lies the contradiction at allowing privateers seeking profits to provide vital public services such as health and for us, public transport. Something has to give and the history of this means the public (who pay for it) dependent on those services receive less. So why don’t our political reps in Labour tell us? I believe all public services which we all pay for and need should be under democratic control and I will work with any councils that treat that as their objective..
3. How will you work with NECA to ensure the safety and security of women and girls on our public transport network (both on buses and metros and at bus stops and metro stations) and whilst walking, wheeling and cycling in the borough?
This issue is wider beyond North Tyneside and should be of concern not only to the particular transport provider and political representative but also agencies such as the Police Commissioner and Northumbria Police and others? Let us be clear, the safety of people (females and males) is woefully inadequate on current public transport provision and requires overhauling. A short time ago a young girl was beaten senseless by a group of other girls on a metro service while the other passengers sat and watched but did not interfere. That is as big a problem! Having groups of workers jump on the carriage for a few stops, talking with each other then getting off is irrelevant and needs improvement. My sister has commented she feels safer on the tube than the metro the reason there are more visible staff .
With bus services it is even more dangerous as staff unions quite rightly focus on their union members safety in a locked drivers cabin but what about the passengers sharing the vehicle with anyone who climbs aboard? There is no safety service as there is no safety service in isolated metro stations and walkways to them. This requires a regional campaign and requires public (government) money to ensure adequate supervision of anti social behaviour while traveling on our transport systems. There is also an educational issue with regards to male violence here and I will support our regional Mayor in her campaigns for greater awareness of this issue.
4. Will you commit to delivering safe routes to all North Tyneside schools by 2030, creating school streets outside possible school (first/primary, middle and high) and prioritizing the provision of a high quality, safe and connected walking, wheeling and cycling network around each school.
I welcome this initiative as I am an active cyclist campaigner. If elected I will consult and work with cycling organisations such as Sustrans, Street Life, parents organisations and local schools and School Council representatives to decide the quickest and safest way to achieve this; especially with engaging young cyclists about safety needs.
5. Will you commit to working with NECA to deliver the five top ranked cycling routes from the Council’s local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) by 2030 and to ensure appropriate provision of secure cycle parking across the borough to facilitate additional cycle journeys?
Yes but are you sure our Council representatives are behind what they claim? I’m not and that is why I am standing as an independent. Cycling and Walking are as important as public transport and are an alternative to private cars as ways in how we travel around our neighbourhoods and region but if we cannot park our bikes safely, we won’t use them. So I support the LCWIP and hope it will result in the provision of secure and accessible cycle parking across the borough which hopefully will lead to more residents choosing their bike as an alternative to using their air polluting motor car.
6. How will you act to reduce pavement parking and other pavement hazards and obstructions (e.g. cracked pavements, bins) in North Tyneside, ensuring that those walking and wheeling can safely and easily move around the borough?
This again is a region wide issue but here, in North Tyneside I could, if elected initiate a borough review to establish the scale of the problem. E.g. besides motorists’ behaviour in senseless parking, there are a number of other obstacles to pedestrians such as over-hanging hedges, commercial outlets littering public spaces with adverts of their businesses and other items such as chairs; and not to forget, builders wagons etc. At the back of this issue is how we all live together and respect each other’s needs e.g, blind or infirm elderly having difficulty to cross busy roads where a car is parked on a dropped kerb. There needs to be a public awareness campaign and a wider issue you haven’t asked about: disabled access. All the above applies to them; as well as what I’ve stated earlier regarding democratising public transport.
7. How will you work to ensure that public transport and active travel (walking wheeling and cycling) are seamlessly connected in North Tyneside, reflecting the commitment in the recently approved NECA Local Travel Plan?
Along with NEPTUG (North East Public Transport Users Group) which the North Tyneside group are a part of, I will support and campaign for a publicly owned, integrated and seamless public transport service where the people (us) who pay for it have a say in what service they receive as only with that, will we achieve the above.
Public Transport now lies with the Regional Mayor and she has a very optimistic local transport plan. However, I believe we need to campaign to get public support behind the above and then, only then, we might see some progress.
John Falkenstein (Reform)
1. Holding Nexus and Bus Companies Accountable
I will work closely with the North Tyneside Transport Forum and the Public Transport User Group to ensure Nexus and bus operators adhere to the commitments outlined in the Customer’s Charter and Bus Passenger Charter. Regular public forums will be held to gather feedback, and I will advocate for stronger enforcement mechanisms to address service failures promptly.
2. Supporting NECA’s Commitment to Franchising
I will support the most cost-effective solution for residents, whether that means franchising or full public ownership, We should focus on affordability, reliability, and accessibility, ensuring that all residents, especially those on lower incomes can benefit from a well-functioning network.
Public transport should not be a last resort but a viable, attractive alternative for those who might otherwise rely on personal vehicles. I will push for improvements that make buses and metros frequent, affordable, and easy to use, ensuring that North Tyneside moves toward a modern, efficient transport system that works for everyone.
3. Ensuring Safety for Women and Girls on Public Transport
Safety is non-negotiable, and absolutley essential, I will collaborate with NECA to implement enhanced security measures, including better lighting at bus stops and metro stations, increased CCTV coverage, and dedicated transport marshals during peak hours. Additionally, I will support initiatives that improve safety for ALL users while walking, wheeling, and cycling across the borough.
4. Delivering Safe Routes to Schools by 2030
I am committed to ensuring safe routes to all North Tyneside schools by 2030. This includes creating school streets outside every possible school and prioritizing the provision of a high-quality, safe, and connected walking, wheeling, and cycling network around each educational institution.
5. Expanding Cycling Infrastructure
While cycle networks can promote sustainable transport, they are not always the optimal solution in every setting., many cycle routes are under used, Thorough impact assessments must be carried out before implementation to ensure they enhance mobility without unintended disruptions. Key considerations include:
Impact on Businesses: Reduced parking and altered traffic patterns can affect footfall for shops and services, so economic impact assessments are essential.
Traffic Displacement: Restricting car access in one area may increase congestion in surrounding streets, which must be predicted and mitigated.
Balancing Priorities: Encouraging active travel must complement broader transport strategies to avoid unintended consequences. Integrated solutions work best.
6. Reducing Pavement Parking and Hazards
Pavement parking and obstructions pose serious accessibility challenges. I will advocate for stricter enforcement against illegal pavement parking and work with local authorities to improve pavement conditions, ensuring those walking and wheeling can move safely and easily across North Tyneside.
7. Enhancing Connectivity Between Public Transport and Active Travel
I will work with NECA to improve infrastructure that links walking, wheeling, and cycling routes directly to transport hubs, ensuring seamless transitions between modes. Regular forums will allow residents to voice concerns and suggest improvements to transport connectivity.
Chloe-Louise Reilly (Green)
1. How will you work with the North Tyneside Transport Forum and the North Tyneside Public Transport User Group to hold Nexus and the bus companies to account if their service in North Tyneside fails to comply with the commitments of the Customer’s Charter and Bus Passenger Charter respectively?
As Mayor, I will work to ensure the voices of passengers, especially those most impacted by unreliable and inaccessible transport, are heard and acted upon. We will work closely and transparently with the North Tyneside Transport Forum and the Public Transport User Group to advocate for Nexus and bus operators to meet the highest standards. This includes encouraging regular public reporting on Charter compliance, exploring citizen-led scrutiny panels, and pushing for reviews or consequences where commitments are not met. Public transport should be accountable to the people who rely on it, not to private shareholders – and I will work to make that principle a cornerstone of our transport policy.
2. How will you actively support NECA’s commitment to franchising as a first step towards the municipal ownership of bus services in North Tyneside and the wider north east?
Franchising is an essential first step toward bringing buses back under public control, where decisions are made in the public interest – not for private profit. I’d like to create a council-backed awareness campaign to educate people on the advantages of franchising. We will advocate for a swift and ambitious franchising rollout, ensuring services are integrated, affordable, and frequent. But we won’t stop there – we will continue to make the case for the eventual municipal ownership of bus services across North Tyneside and the North East. Public ownership would allow us to reinvest profits into services, ensure better pay and conditions for workers, and plan a truly connected and low-carbon transport system that works for everyone.
3. How will you work with NECA to ensure the safety and security of women and girls on our public transport network (both on buses and metros and at bus stops and metro stations) and whilst walking, wheeling and cycling in the borough?
Every woman and girl has the right to feel safe in public spaces, day or night. We will work with NECA to expand the implementation of gender-sensitive design across the transport network – better lighting, clearer sightlines, working help points, and live monitoring at stations and stops. I’d like to support a pilot programme of transport staff and community advocates trained in tackling harassment. But safety also means being able to move freely without fear while walking, wheeling, or cycling – so we will work to embed safety into the design of every active travel scheme, prioritising routes women actually use and listening directly to local women and girls in decision-making.
4. Will you commit to delivering safe routes to all North Tyneside schools by 2030, creating school streets outside every possible school (first/primary, middle and high) and prioritising the provision of a high quality, safe and connected walking, wheeling and cycling network around each school?
We will support the prioritisation of investment to deliver safe routes for every school at the earliest possible opportunity. That means supporting the delivery of school streets wherever feasible – with meaningful consultation – and ensuring every school has access to a high-quality, accessible active travel network. This isn’t just about carbon emissions or congestion – it’s about children’s right to move safely, independently, and confidently in their communities. I’d also like to work with schools, parents and disabled children to ensure our approach is inclusive, especially for those who wheel or have additional access needs.
5. Will you commit to working with NECA to deliver the five top-ranked cycle routes from the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) by 2030 and to ensure appropriate provision of secure cycle parking across the borough to facilitate additional cycle journeys?
Yes, delivering the top LCWIP routes by 2030 is a vital part of building a borough where cycling is a safe, accessible and realistic option for everyone, not just the confident few. We will work to secure funding, prioritise delivery, and advocate for high standards of safety and accessibility in design. Alongside this, I’d like to ensure secure and inclusive cycle parking, including adapted cycle storage, is available at key destinations and transport interchanges across the borough. Investment in cycling infrastructure isn’t just about transport – it’s an investment in public health, climate resilience, and equal access to public space.
6. How will you act to reduce pavement parking and other pavement hazards and obstructions (e.g. cracked pavements, bins) in North Tyneside, ensuring that those walking and wheeling can safely and easily move around the borough?
Our pavements should be for people, not parked cars or hazards. We will work to take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal and dangerous pavement parking, advocating for borough-wide enforcement powers and using existing legislation wherever possible. I’d also like to explore best practice like Lambeth’s Kerbside Strategy. This approach looks holistically at how kerbsides are used – not just for parking, but for greening, accessibility, mobility aids, play, and public seating – and rebalances space based on community need and equity. We will work to launch a community accessibility audit programme, co-designed with disabled residents and carers, to identify and push to fix dangerous pavements, trip hazards, and clutter. This would be supported by a rolling programme of repair and maintenance with accessibility as the core priority. Everyone deserves to get around the borough safely, with dignity and independence.
7. How will you work to ensure that public transport and active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) are seamlessly connected in North Tyneside, reflecting the commitment in the recently-approved NECA Local Travel Plan?
Seamless, integrated transport means putting people first – not cars, not private profits. We will work to push for a unified ticketing system across buses, Metro and ferry, with safe, accessible walking and wheeling routes connecting stops and stations. That includes advocating for secure cycle parking at every transport hub and well-lit, inclusive paths suitable for mobility aids and cargo bikes. I’d like to use the Mayors powers and work with local services providers – such as GP surgeries, community centres and job support – to bring them together and ensure that they are located near accessible transport to reduce reliance on cars, limit the number of journeys people need to make and to strengthen communities. We also want to ensure that we build a transport network that is well-connected, accessible and sustainable and move towards this in a just transition, which means that this will be done in the fairest possible way that ensures no one is left behind.
Martin HENRY Uren (independent)
1. Accountability of Nexus and Bus Companies
I will actively collaborate with the North Tyneside Transport Forum and the North Tyneside Public Transport User Group to monitor and evaluate the performance of Nexus and bus operators. By establishing regular review meetings and public forums, we can ensure adherence to the commitments outlined in the Customer’s Charter and Bus Passenger Charter. Transparency and community involvement will be central to this process, ensuring that service providers are held accountable for their performance.
2. Support for NECA’s Bus Franchising Commitment
I fully support the North East Combined Authority’s (NECA) move towards bus franchising as a foundational step toward municipal ownership of bus services. This approach will allow for greater local control over routes, fares, and service standards, ensuring that public transport meets the specific needs of North Tyneside residents. By prioritising public interest over profit, we can create a more equitable and efficient transport system.
3. Safety and Security for Women and Girls
Ensuring the safety of women and girls on our public transport network and active travel routes is paramount. I will work with NECA to implement measures such as improved lighting at stations and stops, increased CCTV coverage, and community policing initiatives. Additionally, promoting public awareness campaigns and providing safe reporting mechanisms will be integral to creating a secure environment for all.
4. Commitment to Safe Routes to Schools by 2030
I am committed to delivering safe routes to all North Tyneside schools by 2030. This includes the creation of ‘school streets’ to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours and the development of high-quality, connected walking, wheeling, and cycling networks around each school. Engaging with school communities and parents will be essential to ensure these initiatives meet the needs of students and families.
5. Delivery of Top-Ranked Cycle Routes and Secure Parking
I will collaborate with NECA to prioritize the implementation of the top five cycle routes identified in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) by 2030. Ensuring the provision of secure and accessible cycle parking across the borough will also be a focus, encouraging more residents to choose cycling as a viable mode of transport.
6. Reduction of Pavement Hazards and Obstructions
To enhance the safety and accessibility of our pavements, I will initiate a comprehensive review to identify and address hazards such as pavement parking, cracked surfaces, and obstructions like bins. Implementing stricter enforcement against illegal pavement parking and investing in pavement maintenance will be key strategies in this effort.
7. Integration of Public Transport and Active Travel
I will work to ensure seamless integration between public transport and active travel modes, aligning with the commitments outlined in the NECA Local Travel Plan. This includes the development of multimodal transport hubs, synchronised timetables, and unified ticketing systems to facilitate easy transitions between different modes of transport. Community input will be vital in designing these systems to ensure they meet the diverse needs of our residents.