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Workmen have started to remove bollards which were part of a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme.

Newcastle City Council announced last week the scheme in Jesmond was being scrapped following a 10-month trial period which sparked mixed reviews.

The bollards were installed in March last year on some streets between Cradlewell and Osborne Road and the scheme was due to run until September.

The council said the decision to axe it was based on feedback about increased congestion on some roads, longer journey times and the impact on businesses.

The council said the aim of the scheme had been to make "residential areas safer and less polluted for pedestrians and cyclists".

But a consultation on whether to make the LTN permanent showed 77% against, while a petition of almost 5,000 signatures also called for its removal.

Labour councillor Marion Williams, cabinet member for a Connected, Clean city, said: "The streets involved in the scheme have seen significant reductions in traffic and have achieved many of the objectives of the project".

She added: "However, anything we introduce needs to work for the local people and it is clear that some aspects of this scheme have failed to do that."

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