Murdoch Brothers Butchers and Pearl's Pets owners call for review of parking to help Forres High Street
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TWO well-known members of Forres' business community are calling for help with the financial fightback against coronavirus.
Murdoch Brothers Butchers director Graham Murdoch and Pearl's Pets owner Pearl Hamilton agree that Forres High Street parking restrictions need to change to reflect modern shopping trends.
Forres Community Council (FCC) treasurer, Mr Murdoch, raised the issue at the group's July meeting.
He said: "Many customers now prefer to place their order from home, then drive to the shop to collect it. Parking needs to be relaxed so that shoppers can park on the high street whenever they want. Perhaps there could be a 20-minute time limit to encourage quick stops, just long enough to get what they want and go."
Mr Murdoch called for a review by Moray Council and claimed that the current parking restrictions were put in place before the A96 Forres bypass was opened in 1988.
He added: "Too many HGVs travelling from Grantown to Elgin use the high street instead of the bypass. We need a long term parking plan that takes into account the wishes of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists."
Meanwhile, Federation of Small Businesses National Council member, Pearl Hamilton, suggests closing the town centre to motorists.
She said: "As there are no traffic wardens, can we realistically rely on motorists to self regulate? Perhaps one way to discourage HGV’s without legitimate reasons for using High Street would be to make space for people.
"One idea talked about with some business owners and members of the public was to close it from the top of Tolbooth Street towards the town hall. This could allow a shared seating area for the cafes, pubs and shops there where modern technology could help with orders. The area outside the Falconer Museum would also lend itself to a seating area for nearby businesses."
Mrs Hamilton also believes that traffic and deliveries could come in from the west end of High Street and go down Tolbooth Street to help pedestrianisation. Buses from the same direction could use the bus stop already across from the Tolbooth.
She said: "As Tolbooth Street has remained no parking either side for over 50 years, if this was strictly adhered it could work. Buses coming from the east could revert to what they did many years ago and turn in the Leys Road car park to go back out the way they came for the bypass.
"These suggestions could be a way forward to encourage footfall."
Local Moray Councillor, George Alexander, pointed out that FCC discussed a potential 20mph speed limit for the high street with the senior engineer for traffic at the local authority, Ken Major, in September, 2017.
At that time, Mr Major suggested either: creating a 20mph zone with traffic calming measures and signs; or putting in place a 20mph speed limit with signs at either end of the area. He agreed to carry out an average speed survey to inform whether or not the above options could be investigated further.
Cllr Alexander said: "I have asked for any progress on what Mr Major proposed at this meeting but it will probably take some time to get a response.
"There are limits to parking times on High Street already but the trouble is that there is no capacity to police them. Personally I believe more limited time parking should be allowed on High Street and on the parking area beside Savers Health and Beauty but it would not work without monitoring."
