Moray Council approves measures to try to address parking issues
Moray Council has agreed interim measures to try to deal with issues caused by poor parking behaviour in Elgin town centre.
The long-term solution is planned and funded under the Elgin Town Centre Masterplan project, through the Levelling Up Fund.
This involves the council installing rise and fall bollards on the Plainstones, Batchen Street, Commerce Street, and High Street, where drivers are parking on a regular basis, ignoring traffic regulation orders. This long-term solution is likely to be in place by 2026.
The ability to put in specific controls is limited by the current closure of North Street for the rebuilding of the Poundland building. Through traffic currently need to use Batchen Street due to the current works, which have taken longer to complete than anticipated.
In the interim, the council will work in partnership with Police Scotland, with Elgin councillors agreeing to spend up to £10,000 from the Elgin Common Good Fund and/or trust funds. Under this short-term plan, Police Officers will carry out parking enforcement in Elgin town centre for up to six months.
Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee also agreed the local authority’s future approach to pavement parking.
Elected members took the view that parking violations, including pavement parking in Moray, should continue to be enforced by Police Scotland.
Committee chair, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “I’m pleased Elgin Councillors and the committee have reached this decision. This demonstrates that the council is listening and responding to concerns raised about parking in Elgin town centre.”