The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Groups welcome changes to towns’ traffic measures
Business groups in Aberdeenshire have welcomed a review of two of the local authority’s unpopular Spaces for People changes to street layouts.
Alternative traffic systems, put in place in early July to aid social distancing in town centres across the region, have now been altered in Turriff and Banchory.
In Turriff, calls for change came from community groups amid worries for pedestrian safety once the schools return next week.
They followed previous complaints from businesses over the loss of on-street parking.
A revision of the layout means the existing one-way system will be extended further up High Street to the car park, but changed back to two-way at the top of Main Street from Manse Lane junction up to the A947 bypass.
A lowered 20 mph speed limit remains throughout.
Turriff Business Association believes this move will highlight that Main Street is still open for business and allow for extra on-street parking thanks to the removal of excess cones and barriers.
A spokeswoman said: “We are now going to have what we originally asked for at our first meeting five weeks ago.”
Meanwhile in Banchory, the council has also backtracked on a number of changes.
As in Turriff, community groups from the Deeside town met council representatives last week to share their views on how Spaces for People measures were affecting the centre.
A portion of cones have now been removed – which has been described as a “good start” by business leaders.
The removal of the measures has led to more parking spaces and taxi pick-up spots – and more changes on the west side of High Street are also proposed in the near future.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “Minor adjustments to measures in Banchory town centre have been made following discussions with local businesses and other stakeholders.”