Cycling around the busy roads of North Shields, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth has become easier with the arrival of new cycle lanes. Some are connected but several require safe crossing points to access them. Traffic lights are the heart of traffic control that allows pedestrians and the wheeled masses to circulate safely avoiding major roads. We all have our favoured routes to the coast and the new cycle path route from Tynemouth to St Mary’s Island has become more popular. Of course, you begin to take note of the ‘road furniture’, the danger points and over time your routes evolve; you then begin to observe the finer detail.
As a science teacher of 30 years, the use of salt on roads or the corrosion of ferrous metals, wisely protected by paint or plastics is no news to anyone who has gone through the national curriculum.
Dangerous traffic light
It was with surprise and horror that from March 2026, I first observed a dangerous traffic light on a pedestrian crossing in Preston North Shields. The winding rusted 25cm gash revealed the inner cable, surely an amber warning. Three months later the gash continued its apparently stealthy creep around the base of the post even though a whole new cycle lane had been laid around it, a major crossing point to Morrisons on Preston Lane.
I first photographed the state of the post on 6 August; amber had now changed to ‘red’. I contacted Newcastle City Council, who is responsible for the maintenance, and reported the issue. Two days later, the repair consisted of corrugated brown cardboard partially covering the gash and a roll of black electrician tape to bind the ‘temporary patch’. A substance that absorbs water and holds it to a rusting gash of over 25cm in length now circling more than half the circumference of the post would make the basis of a GCSE question in Chemistry.
On 10 August I notified, three Preston Ward Councillors, David Lilly, John Johnson and Liam Bones, with detailed photographs. They replied the same day expressing grave concern. They contacted North Tyneside Council, and Liam Bones replied the next day stating that he would get back to me when he had had a response. As August moves into September and the inevitable high winds of autumn storms approach, with the miserable derisory attempt at a repair still in place and no updates from councillors, what next? How does Newcastle City Council intend to schedule and act on the inevitable damage to traffic lights this autumn?
Maintenance of traffic signals
Newcastle City Council have the contract, that started on 22 September 2025 and that ends on 21 September 2029. Available on the government website the contract has a value set between 3 and 25 million pounds: This ‘will be for the maintenance and inspection of traffic signals assets across Tyne and Wear authorities, Durham and Northumberland County Councils via a call off from the Crown Commercial Service
How does Newcastle City Council intend to schedule and act on the inevitable damage to traffic lights this autumn? I watch with concern and hope that no one is hurt by the inevitable gravity of the situation.
A North Tyneside Council spokesperson said: “North Tyneside Council has a contract with Newcastle City Council to carry out traffic‑light maintenance and repairs on our behalf, and they are aware of the issue raised. The report has been logged with them and will be dealt with in line with their established repairs process.”
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