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Moray councillors back strategy plan for Elgin

The lit up Landshut Bridge
The lit up Landshut Bridge

Councillors have backed a vision for the future of Elgin.

The town centre’s parking will be reviewed, along with lighting, and there will be a real drive to get the upper floors of buildings back into use.

Other proposals include allowing buses and taxis access to the pedestrianised area of High Street on a trial basis, improving signs around the town and tackling parking access at Lossie Green.

Members of Moray Council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee backed the strategy to revitalise the town, which has been developed after an intensive consultation earlier this year.

Although members backed the blueprint, one particular area of contention was the lighting proposals.

Both councillors Douglas Ross and Fiona Murdoch suggested it was a waste of money to spend £20,000 on bringing a lighting consultant to the town, and to install vibrant lights to make the town more attractive at night.

But Jim Grant, head of development services, stressed the importance of making the centre of Elgin approachable and attractive long after the 5pm, and said lighting had a part to play in that.

A motion to remove lighting from the strategy was rejected by seven votes to six.

Following the meeting, Elgin councillor Graham Leadbitter said: “The proposals that have come out are a mixture of quick wins and medium and longer term goals, and I am pleased that out of that, we have a clear set of actions to take forward now.

“A review of parking strategy is long overdue. It was opposed a few years ago, much to my frustration, but it has now been backed. The review of lighting is also to be welcomed, as are actions to improve the streetscape and signage.

“We have some amazing buildings and spaces in Elgin and it is vital that we get the best use of those and connect them together for locals and visitors alike. Getting unused upper floor space revitalised is a particularly important action from this report and, again, long overdue.”

Elgin City North councillor Patsy Gowans raised concerns about bringing vehicles back into the High Street area.

She said: “We are beginning to see outdoor seating in the High Street and more major events such as last weekend’s Food and Drink Festival that use the space well, and I just don’t see how bringing vehicles back would encourage that.”