Slip ideas for St James' Park, Newcastle - The Northern Echo

5:41pm Monday 25th Feb 2013 in Information By Gavin Engelbrecht Artist's impact of slides at St James' Park, Newcastle TOON fans may wish their accomplishments are not on the slip - unlike they could be if strange 'transfer' recommendations get the go ahead. For two "travel accelerators" could be mounted outside St James' Park, Newcastle, to simply help push supporters away from the ground that bit quicker. The slides, the firstly their kind in the UK, will allow a number of the 53,000 matchgoers to avoid having to tackle a lengthy flight of steps and as an alternative 'chute' right down to the stadiumas car parking or Metro stop below. The plans were met with incredulity by fans, but as somewhat of fun they welcomed the novelty. The business improvement district company NE1 Ltd, that has presented ideas to Newcastle City Council, said similar slides are used by commuters Aat the train station in Utrecht, Holland. The slides would be the latest idea in NE1as award-winning pocket park process, built to infuse new life into regions of Newcastle city centre. The business said it's worked closely with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and with police crime prevention design specialists Consultancy to make sure it's safe. Adrian Waddell, NE1as director of operations said: aThe slides are meant to inject some fun into the city centre and get their inspiration from Holland where slides have been installed in a busy train station to speed up access to train systems and to inject new life into a location. aNE1as slides, such as the rest of our pocket areas, are created to get people talking.a and attract attention Mark Jensen, manager of Newcastle United fanzine The Mag said: aI think many peopleas first response will be to think 'how bizarre.' aIam sure if the cash could possibly be better used some individuals is likely to be wondering, but I'm all for modern things in Newcastle. I imagine the fee will soon be nominal. aThere is really a fun element to it. It'll give people a laugh and what importance for your requirements wear that?a The slides have now been designed by Newcastle-based Robinson Landscape Design. Mary Robinson said "Being fun and soing something a little strange aims to encourage people to spend more time here experiencing the town. "We want people to then rise the stairs, drive the slip and take action again".