Feasibility Study for the Industrial Area - Part 1 (PDF 5 MB)

It has a variety of building types, from the recent small units on
Bath Street, to a cash&carry metal shed, a traditional style brick
hotel, to the metal scrap yards. These are the single largest
occupiers and the most visible ones: their high levels of activity
tends to generate high level of lorry traffic and local noise. Other
sites in this area are vacant or underutilised.
A number of mature trees and attractive landscape edges are
present and soften the impact of the built development.
The overall appearance is that of an unsightly and inappropriate
low grade mixed commercial area.
Hadrian’s Way
This is a pedestrian and cycle corridor, part of the National Cycle
Network and linking the centre of Newcastle with Roman sites
and the Scandinavian ferry. At this location it follows the
alignment of the former railway line on the ridge of the gorge. It is
therefore relatively flat, with the exception of the access points
and the areas where former bridges have been removed.
The corridor is simply paved in tarmac and is flanked by grass
strips and natural mixed vegetation. For most part of its Walker
Riverside stretch, the trail passes behind industrial premises.
This fact raises a number of issues: the path is often secluded
and poorly overlooked, there have been reports of vandalisms,
and the unsightly backs of industrial buildings are exposed to
view. Particularly poor is the open view onto the piles of scrap
metals of the two Station Road yards. The landscape buffer at
this location is also thinner than elsewhere.
7.4 Culture and Tourism
The area is very close to Hadrian’s Wall and the archaeological
remains of the fort of Segedunum in Wallsend. The
archaeological potential of the area is addressed in the Stage 2
report of this study, on ground conditions.
Nevertheless, the area has a complex and interesting landscape
and industrial archaeology. The river corridor, the vegetated
slopes and banks, the industrial structures (bridges, cranes,
walls and buildings) could all contribute to a rich cultural
experience of the area. Tourism and heritage do not appear to be
considered as valuable resources and they could be further
exploited in terms, at least, of interpretation and image.
7.5 Crime
The industrial Waker Riverside does not appear to have serious
crime problems in recent years. Anecdotal reports of burglary and
intimidation appear to belong to the past, with all interviewd
businesses and the Police confirming major improvements in
recent years.
This could be due to the introduction of CCTV systems or
security guards in most premises.
Today, vandalism and flytipping are the main cause for concern.
A Police report and strategy for the wider Walker area is currently
in preparation and will be made available when ready.
The trail, however, incorporates the very attractive old stone
railway structures and on well designed paving and art pieces at
the approaches. It is pepper potted with industrial remains, but it
has no interpretation panels.
The trail offers a valuable recreational link, but has long stretches
of poor frontages, which will take a long time before they can be
progressively improved.
Nature and culture at Walker Riverside
40 Colin Buchanan