Peterhead’s town centre has become a no-go zone for some residents, according to a new survey.
Councillors have called for action to address perceptions about the town centre after it was found that many people were afraid to walk through it.
Residents and visitors were quizzed about the town centre as part of a regeneration scheme.
The consensus was that people did not feel safe in and around the Drummer’s Corner area, with many stating they felt intimidated by certain people who hang out there.
There were also concerns about being dive-bombed by resident gulls.
Around 500 people, including schoolchildren, took part in the survey, which followed the launch of an action plan to make the town more attractive to residents and visitors.
The action plan suggests livening up the area with better lighting, banners and street furniture, as well as lining Broad Street with arcades, kiosks and cafes.
Residents who took part in the survey generally welcomed the suggestions, but they were strongly opposed to glass canopies planned for Marischal Street, which they argued would cost more to maintain and clean than to instal.
Yesterday, members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Buchan area committee endorsed the action plan, although chairman Stuart Pratt said it “wasn’t very exciting”.
He added that the canopies would provide cover and should not be ruled out straight away.
Central Buchan councillor Jim Ingram was concerned that people did not feel safe in the town centre.
“These concerns need to be quantified a bit more, because feeling safe is very important.
“I wonder if this is a criticism of our police, who I believe do an excellent job by and large.”
Mr Pratt said it was an issue that the council needed to raise with the police and other agencies.
“We really need to mitigate this. There does seem to be a strong perception about the town centre.”
Peterhead councillor Stephen Smith said: “I think this plan was never going to match people’s expectations. There was never going to be one magic solution.”
But councillor Tom Malone felt it could be used to “set a benchmark to move things forward.”
Councillor Alan Buchan, who criticised the action plan in his weekly newsletter, did not take part in the debate.