Make Lead Road and Spen Lane in Greenside safer with a 20 mph scheme, crossings and enforcement

This petition calls on Gateshead Council to prioritise and deliver a funded package of road safety improvements for Lead Road between Woodside Lane and Folly Lane and for Spen Lane in Greenside.

The package should include a 20 mph scheme that is supported by physical traffic calming, clearer signage and safer crossing points, especially around bus stops and routes used by children, older residents and disabled residents.

We also ask the council to publish a clear delivery plan with timescales and to set out how it will work with Northumbria Police on enforcement, including mobile safety camera deployment once the site assessment is complete.

In light of updated evidence and the growth in traffic linked to major housing development across Crawcrook, Greenside, Ryton and High Spen, we ask the council to review the February 2020 Cabinet decision on 20 mph zones so that Greenside can be considered within an updated programme.

Finally, we ask that Community Infrastructure Levy funding from development in Crawcrook, Greenside, Ryton and High Spen, including funding set aside for highways and transport improvements and now used within parts of the council's capital programme, is prioritised for this project, reflecting increased traffic demand and the national direction on improving road safety.

Background information

Residents have raised road safety concerns in Greenside for several years and two petitions have previously been submitted, with a further petition currently being circulated. People report frequent near misses, difficulties crossing the road safely and concern for vulnerable road users. The council's own speed survey for Lead Road, Site 02532709 Lead Road East, recorded 25,509 vehicle movements over 7 days from 25 November 2025. The recorded average speed was 31.6 mph in a 30 mph zone and the 85th percentile speed was 37.2 mph. A total of 1,809 vehicles were recorded travelling above 30 mph, including 115 vehicles above 40 mph through a small village. In recent years there has also been significant housing growth across Crawcrook, Greenside, Ryton and High Spen. Residents believe this has increased traffic volumes and pressure on Lead Road as a key connecting route, making the need for a properly funded safety scheme more urgent. We want to work constructively with the council, councillors, officers and partners to secure a clear plan and delivery timetable that residents can understand and trust.

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Principal petitioner

Shaun Edge

Closing date

7 May 2026

Signatures

232 _{(Online: 232 | Paper: 0)}

^{[Last update: 27 April 2026, 10.30am]}