Bringing vehicles back to the heart Elgin in a bid to give town centre businesses a boost could be about to hit a road block.
The proposals have been brought forward after a charette last year where it was suggested the high street could get a boost from vehicles being allowed back in.
However, fears have been raised about the potential for accidents in Elgin’s historic town centre.
Today, the council’s economic development and infrastructure committee will discuss a trial for the plans, which come as officers devise a new transport strategy for the town.
Avril Milton, manager of Pancake Palace, believes more needs to be done to make the centre attractive for shoppers.
She said: “Anything to get people up to the high street, there’s not much for shoppers to come up to do. If you go to the retail park there’s probably hardly a space to be had.
“Anything is worth trying, especially in the summer season when we are expecting to be at our busiest. One thing I would be worried about is making sure we could still have our outdoor tables and chairs.”
Conflicting views about the impact extra traffic could have on trading in town centres was found during research by Moray Council.
Mark Piggott, owner of Scotvapes, said: “It’s a pretty town centre, it’s a feature. There is good parking provision in the town already too, you’re never more than two minutes walk from the shops. I think it works fine the way it is.”
Earlier this month, Moray Council agreed to formulate a new traffic strategy for Elgin – which is primarily aimed at reducing congestion.
But Elgin Bid’s Gill Neil said her group would raise any issues traders present them with, including the possibility of allowing cars through the pedestrianised part of the High Street.
Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter has been canvassing opinion from businesses in the town centre.
He said: “While there are some who would support a partial pedestrianisation of the high street the majority seem to be
against it and we should protect the space for pedestrians.
“Elgin town centre is really quite spectacular and there is really no point in spoiling that by reintroducing traffic.”
Moray Council’s traffic engineer Dave Malpas compared Elgin’s town centre to Exeter because of their similar features.
After examining different town centres Mr Malpas concluded there was no evidence increasing traffic would have a positive impact on retail trade and the trial should not go ahead on safety grounds.
In a report to the committee he wrote: “It is not possible to predict the number of casualties that would occur from any relaxation of the pedestrian zone, however there is a real likelihood that reopening the street to traffic would lead to casualties.”
Mr Malpas concluded: “Reintroducing traffic to the space can only make it less safe.”
