The flyover was built to take the traffic off the High Street making a pedestrian shoppers paradise. Unfortuntely the shoppers stayed in their cars and followed wherever the road went to. The Metro Centre was the final nail in its coffin. Now, that is also beginning to wilt. Some towns have overcome modern internet shopping difficulties and continue to seemingly thrive. Morpeth, Gosforth and Whitley Bay come to mind. Gateshead has few modern redeeming features - except the road leading out. Even that is bunged up for the next 3 to 4 years at the Tyne Bridge. Poor planning or is it perhaps a ploy to trap and entice shoppers back onto the High Street. Meandering about like lost souls looking for a decent store or pub. Where once both were notably plentiful, they are now a rarity. Hopefully something good comes from the Pipewellgate area when /if ever the excavations are completed. You can always go and have yet another look at the Milleniumm Bridge. Unfortunatelay, it no longer tilts just because it can. It will only do so if you have suitable boat and wish to pass under it. Swing bridge is also knackered. Just no fun near Gateshead. Football team OK but the council decided not to give support when requred. In spite of the above problems and although I don't live there, Gateshead is my birthplace - and I love it.