No vehicle access trial for pedestrianised High Street

Moray councillors today decided against reintroducing traffic to the pedestrianised area of Elgin High Street on a trial basis.

The idea of opening up the area to vehicles in a bid to boost trade emerged from a charrette held last year as part of a redevelopment vision for the town centre.

The area around St Giles Church and stretching from Batchen Street in the west to Commerce Street in the east has been pedestrianised since 1996.

A report to the council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee said that, based on studies and on the experiences of towns elsewhere, there was no clear evidence that increasing traffic on High Street would have a positive impact on retail trade.

However, there was evidence that an increase in traffic would present a heightened risk in terms of road safety.

The report stated: “Even with significant engineering mitigation works for which there is currently no budget provision, the area would not be as safe for pedestrians as it currently is.

“On this basis the recommendation is that a trial of High Street vehicular access should not be progressed at this time.”

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 92,500 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.