Aberdeenshire Council has agreed to revise controversial changes to streets carried out in the name of safety “as soon as possible” following a meeting with traders.
Various road closures and traffic measures initiated under the Spaces For People social distancing scheme have been changed over the last month in the region – most recently in Turriff and Banchory.
In Stonehaven, retailers were equally vocal about the detrimental impact the system was having on their takings.
Now, after a meeting of Stonehaven Community Council and the Stonehaven Business Association, council officers have agreed to backtrack on some of the measures they put in place.
Cones cordoning off an area will be moved on the east side of Allardice Street opposite Market Square, while others will be taken away at the south end of Barclay Street opposite the bus stops. A further batch will be replaced with water-filled barriers.
Stonehaven councillor Sarah Dickinson said: “I have supported the measures to create distancing where there are queues on the streets on public health grounds.
“But I have been clear with officers as time has gone on that there are locations where the benefit of these measures has not been apparent, and I have argued for them to be removed.
“Further to a recent meeting of officers with the Stonehaven Business Association, council officers have been considering the feedback and suggestions made for adjustments to the Spaces for People measures.”
Mrs Dickinson, alongside fellow ward councillors Dennis Robertson and Wendy Agnew, have all agreed to put further pressure on the council over the measures.
Mrs Dickinson added: “The adjustments being made to the measures are not as extensive as I had argued for.
“I will continue to press officers to ensure that the measures are only in place as needed.”
The petition, started by Carol Humphreys, states: “We need to save Stonehaven, we have already got shops closing and lots of businesses around the town are finding it so hard to make a living.
“We need to get Aberdeenshire Council to remove the cones – not saying all of them – but they need to move most of them. They are not working for Stonehaven.”
Aberdeenshire Council has been seeking to continually revisit and monitor its Spaces for People measures to avoid the “sort of flare-up” seen in Aberdeen where criticism has been rife.
Ewan Wallace, head of transportation for the council, said: “The measures put in place to support town centres through the Spaces for People project are a public health intervention and are required to provide the additional space required for physical distancing for customers visiting our town centres.
“The measures complement the changes by businesses in the town centres to keep people safe and continue to suppress the virus.
“The council is currently considering feedback from the communities, including Stonehaven where we met with the Business Association last week, to identify if there are alterations which can be made to the temporary measures.”