Published: Wednesday, 22nd February, 2006 10:30
One-way system faces testing time
By Border Telegraph Newsroom
Print Article
RESIDENTS of Melrose are hoping a traffic management scheme will ease town-centre congestion and parking problems.
A seven-month trial of a one-way road system is due to begin next month.
A major legislative step was taken on Monday night when Eildon Area Committee agreed to the implementation of an experimental traffic regulation order.
Despite five objections, local councillor Bill Smith urged the committee to support the trial.
He said: “This is only an experiment and it will be monitored.
“If it works, good and well.
“If it doesn’t, the scheme can be aborted.
“We must grasp the nettle and move ahead.”
Long-suffering locals have waited a long time for alterations to a road system that needs to be tailored to 21st century needs.
It’s five years since external consultants undertook a traffic management study, which also examined how it would impact on Melrose’s important tourism industry.
Housing development in and around the town will soon place greater demands on town centre parking.
The proposals will see High Street, Buccleuch Street, Abbey Street and Market Square converted to a clockwise one-way operation within the town centre.
The western section of High Street (beside the rugby ground) and Abbey Street (beside the abbey) will remain two-way.
The traffic management plan is to be introduced first, followed by alterations to kerbs and footways.
A stakeholder group, chaired by community councillor Graham Barker, will monitor and adjust the scheme during the trial.
He told Melrose and District Community Council last Wednesday that SBC roads officials, having taken careful note of the stakeholders’ comments, had managed to incorporate suggested changes.
Mr Barker confirmed that there would be quite a bit of disruption immediately before implementation day, scheduled for March 12.
This will involve burning off white lines on roads and painting new ones.
Angela Dewar, of Melrose Traders’ Association, said local business people seemed quite happy with the road layout, commenting that any change would be an improvement.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Selkirk flats office move