Traffic given the green light to travel down high street in bid to boost evening activities

CARS travelled down a town’s high street for the first time in 18 years as part of moves to inject new life into the area’s evening activities.

Vehicles are now allowed on Paisley’s High Street between 6.30pm-6.30am in a bid to create easier access to pubs, clubs and restaurants and make it easier for traffic to get through the town centre.

The town has been hit by the move away from highstreet shopping and towards out-of-town retailers. Environment convener Councillor Eddie Devine said: “This change to the traffic set-up is a small step as part of a much bigger and package of meas- ures aimed at transforming Paisley town centre.”

Mr Devine said: “This will making it easier for traffic to drive through the town centre rather than having to go round it and hopefully create more activity in the evenings. By allowing traffic at times where the street is currently very quiet, we hope to increase visibility of the town centre and boost the evening economy.”

He said the retail environment had changed “beyond recognition” since 1997, the last time cars were allowed on the high street. “What we are not trying to do is turn the clock back. Paisley has the same challenges as all traditional town centres – competition from big out-of- town shopping developments and the rise of internet shopping,” he said. “The way to tackle those challenges is to look at the many things Paisley does have in its favour and use that to sell the town at home and abroad.”