Elgin bus station’s decaying state could deter visitors from the town and wider area, a Moray councillor has claimed.
Planning permission for a £7million extension to the St Giles Centre – including the renovation or replacement of the “run-down” depot next door – has been in place for two years.
However, developers have been unable to confirm when that work might start and councillor George Alexander has called for the site to be smartened up.
Mr Alexander, who represents the Forres ward, said: “I was excited when we approved plans that included a nice new bus station for Elgin, but now I question whether it’s ever going to happen.
“The town, and the wider Moray area, depends on tourism – but we have a station where smokers smoke in non-smoking areas, and gulls do their business wherever they choose.
“If we are serious about attracting tourists to Elgin then we must do something about the bus station and if Elgin wants to be an attractive town it needs to clean itself up a bit.”
The Robertson property group and St Giles Centre owners Uplands Investment successfully applied for permission to refurbish the shopping precinct and surrounding area in October 2013.
The proposals included development from the High Street through to the town-centre terminal.
However, there has been no timetable for when the work might take place.
Jim Grant, head of development services at the local authority, said developers had until next October to put the plans into practice.
Bus station owner Stagecoach stressed it was doing all it could to keep the depot presentable in the meantime.
Operations director for the north of Scotland, Stephie Barber, said: “There are a number of issues but the station in Elgin is reasonably well-kept.
“We do everything we can to keep it tidy, but there’s an element of self-policing required from those using it.
“If anyone has specific details of people flouting smoking laws then I would ask them to please let us know.”
David Cairns, who owns the Baggs of Elgin luggage and leather goods store beside the station, said: “If anyone visited this area just now they would say it’s run-down.”
