Drivers risk a £70 fine within weeks as a council launches cameras to target illegal practices. Newcastle City Council will begin enforcing no-entry zones from July 1 as part of tougher action for rule breakers.
Camera Enforcement on Christon Road and Hyde Terrace
Cameras will begin monitoring the junction of Christon Road and Hyde Terrace in Gosforth from July 1. The enforcement comes as part of a crackdown on so-called 'rat running'.
A rat run is the practice of drivers using minor residential streets or back roads as a shortcut to bypass heavy traffic on main roads. The term describes the chaotic, maze-like routes vehicles take, drawing a comparison to rats navigating a maze to find the quickest path.
Council Warning and Penalties
Pamela Holmes, Assistant Director of Transport at Newcastle City Council, said: “Hyde Terrace is a quiet residential street and is not designed to carry large amounts of through traffic.
“The no entry restriction is there to help keep the street safe for residents by preventing it from being used as a short cut. Despite this, there are many instances where drivers are ignoring the road signs in order to cut through the street.”
The warning from Ms Holmes went on, adding in an alert for motorists: “We hope that the introduction of camera enforcement at this location will help to deter drivers from making this illegal turn into Hyde Terrace from Christon Road.”
Enforcement action will begin on 1 July 2026 and anyone who is caught breaching the restriction during the following six months will receive a warning letter in the first instance.
However, anyone breaking the rules a second time, including during the first six months, will receive a £70 Penalty Charge Notice, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.
Once the initial six-month warning period ends, anyone breaching the restriction will receive a financial penalty.
