We have had some bad news from Tweeds, the Project Managers for the Eldon Square redevelopment project, relating to the current temporary closure of Newgate St.
As part of the on-going excavation work, their contractor Sir Robert McAlpine have come across 11,000 kV High Voltage electricity cables which were not in the location they were expected to be. Unfortunately these cables are in the middle of the road and are too shallow to allow the new road construction to be built over them. As a result the cables will have to be lowered. Regrettably when you dig holes in the ground things are not always the in the places they should be.
Unfortunatey High Voltage cables of this type are notoriously difficult, and dangerous, to move and the work has to be undertaken by a specialist sub-contractor. 11kV cables are very large diameter, are heavy and don’t bend easily allowing them to be manouvered out of the way. The cables belong to NEDL who have just parted company with their specialist sub-contractor. We are told that they are in the process of appointing another but we cannot yet be certain when this will happen and when work will start.
In the attached letter Tweeds are asking us to extend the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order until the end of June this year and confirming that they will not require any further extension beyond this date.
Under the circumstances I have no option but to accede to this request. This will be done through the making of a new Temporary Traffic Regulation Order which will be timed to run consecutively with the end of the current TTRO which expires on June 16th. Although I am confident that McAlpines will complete their work on time I still have some concerns about NEDL’s ability to deliver their part in the process. As a result I will take the precaution of making the new TTRO terminate at the end of July but all pressure will be brought to bear to complete the wroks as soon as possible.
I can only apologise for the inconvenience and disruption that this will cause your services but once again ask for your co-operation and patience in this matter.
Thanks
Peter Weightman
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from what i’ve been told by the lads who work the gate, they found out from the forman who operates the gate allowing the concrete wagons in, that they wouldnt be going back to there usual rank anytime soon, would be nice to have heard this from licecning rather than passing chat with a builder!
and the ‘rank’ they have created on andrew street, well wouldnt it have been better to mark this out properly with paint while the temporary rank is there. the everyday problems they are facing is people parking on double yellow lines, now mr. smith, said that the side with a taxi sign (one car) is the side to try and park on, and this is a temporary rank. now more often than not, people park on the other side (joe public, delivery vans) and when a wagon cannot get through, its the taxi drivers who get the glares! now who is in the right and wrong? also a couple of the shops insist that the space outside there shop is left clear, yet the lads have been told that this is the side to park on even though it’s marked with double yellows all the way down. so who is in the right and wrong, in theory, if an over zealous traffic warden comes by (and there arnt any of those eh?) the whole lot could get tickets. surely the cost to replace the rank should fall in the construction bill? and wouldnt it have been better, if they marked the road with the correct taxi markings so everybody knows who is in the wrong?
just more of taxis getting shoved to one side, if you ask me.
I recieved the email about the Extention to the closure from Peter Wieghtman and got it posted asap. with regard to the markings on St Andrews St, again, this was requested at the time that Rank was started,I was informed that since it was temporary, highways did not feel that was needed. I did manage to get the extra ‘Taxi’ signage put up. Because of the number of people that work there and the fact that any markings/rank spaces would be nowhere near the amount needed, it was better leaving it the way it is and NOT get Harassed by enforcement or Police unless your vehicle is ‘hanging out’ into Gallowgate.
Can anyone shine any light on the gossip going around at the minute with regards to the ‘Newcastle Hackney Forum’ meeting that was held earlier this week about some of the internal problems. Apparently 2 members were not happy with some opinions from the other members which lead to a democratic vote. The vote went against the opinion of the 2 that weren’t happy and apparently one of the 2 walked out of the meeting. I’ve heard that the person who walked out of the meeting is holding our signature form and other documentation that belongs to the Newcastle Hackney Forum and is reluctant to return it?
Is anybody from the Newcastle Hackney Forum willing to come forward with more information as there is growing concerns on the ranks. I am more than happy, and I think most of the hack trade in Newcastle from what we’ve seen so far, are pleased with the progress thats been made from the NHF and I hope this continues.
@Concerned NCLE Hack Driver, I have spoken to one of the members of the ‘Newcastle Hackney Forum’ this morning and it appears that two members were not happy with certain aspects of the Newsletter and it’s author.You may or may not know that the forum has a very talented Lady,with a background in Local Government,who has been extremely helpful in putting our requirements and needs forward in the language the Local Authorities understand,she has done this for no financial gain but simply to help the Newcastle hackney trade.Two members seemed to think she was stealing their thunder and made it known that they were unhappy.It was then put to a democratic vote whether or not to keep the services of this young lady. The vote simply went against the two and the matter was resolved democratically. Every member of the ‘Newcastle Hackney Forum’ agrees that no one member is bigger than the group and as such accepts the outcome of a democratic vote. The member that left does still hold some documentation but fully intends to return said documentation. That member has not stated that he wants to leave and there has been no argument since the democratic vote.There is no cause for concern and rumours like this do not help the cause of the Newcastle hackney trade,there are people who will sieze upon rumours such as this and make a meal of it. The entire 12 members of the ‘Newcastle Hackney Forum’ have formed an extremely positive relationship with the Local Authority and this in no way damages that relationship.
zaf,
fully understand,
as time goes on, people round st andrew street are learning to work together a bit better, its all abiout give and take.
well done to all the hard work.