'Neglected' subways in line for spruce-up
BBCGrotty subways beneath a major city centre roundabout are in line for investment to make them feel less intimidating.
Newcastle City Council is set to fund work to improve the state of the underpasses around the Swan House roundabout, which were called "dated and neglected" in a local authority report.
Almost £64,000 is being set aside to pay for measures intended to make the subways feel safer, and it follows the recent installation of new lighting.
The plans could include things such as CCTV cameras, painting, new signage and a general clean-up of the area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The council report said the subways, connecting to a redevelopment area on East Pilgrim Street and the east side of the A167 central motorway, were the subject of safety concerns from residents and businesses.
Firms were "experiencing a decline in the uptake of rental premises as a result of the unattractiveness of the surrounding connections", the document added.
A spokesperson for the local authority said the lighting was "already making a difference" but added further improvements were needed to "create a more pleasant and appealing pedestrian route".