Fears over towns’ £1m makeover
A £1.1 million project is to revamp the layout of Ayrshire’s main towns in a bid to make them “safer” after Covid-19.
Pavements will be widened and road space “reallocated for cycle tracks” as part of temporary social distancing measures.
Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, is to lead on implementing the scheme funded by the Scottish Government. A public consultation begins this week. But concerns have been raised over the potential to slash parking spaces in town centres at a time when businesses are crying out for support.
Prestwick is one of five towns set for the measures which, the scheme says, will make it “safer for people who choose to walk, cycle or wheel”.
Town councillor, Hugh Hunter, told the Post : “I have great concerns over these plans, not least because of the potential impact on our already limited parking.
“As such, I am very nervous about proposals that would see any reduction in spaces along the Main Street.
“Businesses and the public need to be on board and with so many struggling right now, we surely need to be encouraging people into our towns, not making it more difficult.
“The parking spaces in Prestwick, particularly, are precious enough as it is.
“Anything that would impact on that strikes me as a negative.”
South Ayrshire (£510,000) and East Ayrshire Council (£555,000) have both been allocated funding for the scheme.
In South Ayrshire, measures will be introduced in Prestwick (Main St), Troon (Portland Street), Ayr (High St and Sandgate), Maybole (High St) and Girvan (Dalrymple St).
A string of schools will have “mitigation” measures put in their surrounding streets to ensure distancing.
The Ayrshire Roads Alliance, who are helping to lead on the project, insist the public will be able to inform their decision making.
A spokesman insisted that people will be given their say on the plans.
He added: “The Ayrshire Roads Alliance, with Sustrans, will be holding a consultation that is due to launch this week, which will seek the views of the local community on possible interventions that will help to keep communities safer during the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The consultation, which will be held online, a letter drop to local businesses and communication with the local community councils will all be used to advise of the proposed phase 1 mitigation measures; approval for which has been obtained from elected members prior to information being released more widely.
“Members of the public, community councils and businesses will all be able to comment on how successful or unsuccessful they feel these measures will be at aiding social distancing in each location, comments received will be collated and reported in due course.
The spokesman went on: “It is proposed to adopt this approach for the five major town locations to assist in implementing the mitigation measures as a matter of urgency in the interests of public safety during the Coronavirus pandemic.”
I am anxious about proposals to reduce parking