Access Control Measures
As part of making Elgin city centre an attractive place to live and visit we are considering the installation of access control measures to enhance the existing pedestrian areas on The Plainstones and Thunderton Place and to limit access to Batchen Street and Commerce Street during the day. Existing traffic regulation orders apply to all of these areas limiting access to certain types of vehicles and in some instances for deliveries only. However the existing traffic regulation orders are often ignored by unauthorised vehicles and some areas on The Plainstones are now being parked on by vehicles on a regular basis.
Removing unauthorised vehicles, including vehicles who are parking, from The Plainstones would reduce the potential for conflict between pedestrians/cyclists and vehicles, and create a safer more attractive environment for vulnerable road users.
Where would the access control measures be?
01 / 08
1
Batchen Street
On Batchen Street at its junction with the High Street
2
Batchen Street (S)
On Batchen Street at its junction to the north of South Street
3
The Plainstones
At the Western end of The Plainstones
4
The Plainstones
At the Eastern end of The Plainstones
5
High Street
On the High Street between Lossie Wynd and Commerce Street
6
Commerce Street
On Commerce Street just to the north of South Street
7
Thunderton Place
On Thunderton Place just to the north of South Street
8
Batchen Lane
On Batchen Lane just to the west of Thunderton Place.
What would the control measures look like?
It is anticipated that the control measures would be in the form of automatic ‘rise and fall’ bollards. Rise and fall bollards have been installed across the UK by many local authorities. They are installed to provide a physical barrier to access for unauthorised vehicles. They are commonly used to enforce traffic regulation orders in restricting access to particular types of vehicles and/or certain times of the day.
The bollards generally use an electric or hydraulic mechanism installed under the road which are raised or lowered automatically in response to a trigger either from a driver or vehicle. A nearby cabinet contains the control and communication equipment. Adjacent to the bollards would be warning signs and red/green warning lights which would indicate to drivers of authorised vehicles when they should stop and when it as safe to proceed.
This is what the bollards could look like
How would they operate?
Authorised vehicles would be provided with a transponder or a key fob which would be read and trigger the bollards to go down. When it was safe for the authorised vehicle to proceed the warning lights would shine green. After the vehicle has passed the bollards would automatically return their original raised position.
Who would be eligible to pass through the control measures?
The control measures would enable access by delivery vehicles, emergency services, and in some locations licensed taxis and residents with off-street parking provision in keeping with the existing traffic regulation orders.
We want to hear your views
We'd like to hear from as many people, groups and businesses as possible.
Consultation Period: 22 March - 14 June 2021.
Please use the online form to submit your comments and feedback by 14 June 2021.