Moray Council is asking for the public’s help in shaping a £60,000 scheme, designed to improve parking problems in the centre of the region’s biggest town.
Councillors agreed to forge ahead with costly plans to free up more space in the heart of Elgin late last year.
Transport officers are now poised to begin forming the strategy, and have created an online survey for locals to register their thoughts on how best to proceed.
The local authority’s transportation manager, Nicola Moss, said residents’ responses would be key to the success of the initiative.
She added: “We want to know what people’s views are on parking within Elgin, what problems and issues they face and what they think could be done to improve the current parking conditions.
“The views of the public matter and the information they provide will help us to develop a better parking strategy for Elgin.”
The review will scrutinise the dearth of available spaces in and around the town centre, and gauge car park usage levels before devising a strategy to tackle those issues.
The survey asks respondents to list their main reasons for travelling into the centre of Elgin, and the means of transport they most commonly use to get there.
It lists 15 concerns raised about parking in Elgin during a recent transport consultation – and asks people to name the five parking-related issues which cause them the most bother.
Respondents are also asked why they might avoid the town’s two multi-storey car parks, and their views on paying to park on the street.
The questionnaire will be available online until Tuesday, September 27.
Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter admitted that car parks around the heart of the town were overflowing, and has long maintained action is required to attract greater numbers to the High Street.
His fellow ward member, John Divers, joined Mr Leadbitter in driving forward the review last December – despite some administration councillors claiming the £60,000 price tag was excessive.
Mr Divers argued the situation would worsen unless remedial measures were taken – with an expected 4,500 houses being built in Elgin over the next few decades.
The survey can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Elgin-Parking.
