As a current talmid of one of the yeshivos in Gateshead, I can state that there are between 700-800 bachurim in town, as well as around 500 sem girls, and I’m not sure how many families.
First of all, this takanah has been around for longer than I have been in Gateshead, and I think it was initiated by the old Rav, Rav Rakow ztz”l. Therefore, we must bear in mind that he probably had a much greater understanding of both straightforward daas Torah and also a thorough understanding of the workings of the community.