Aberdeenshire Council has welcomed the progress being made in the Public Realm Improvement Scheme on Banff's Bridge Street.

The Bridge Street Public Realm Improvement Scheme being led by the council's Delivery Team will link up strategic projects and key areas of the town.

Its overarching vision is to make it an attractive environment for small shops and businesses as well as re-instating the key link between Old Market Place and the Town Centre.

This is being encouraged by placing an emphasis on pedestrian movement rather than functioning purely as an area to park or as a through-route for vehicles.

The project recently received a £709,030 share of the £3.28 million awarded to Aberdeenshire Council through the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund which is aimed at driving local economic activity and stimulating and supporting economic improvements.


Project Co-ordinator Kirsty Black said: "Bridge Street presents a challenging but unique environment and the scheme proposed is ambitious, however, the results would be transformational for Bridge Street and the rest of Banff.

"The improved street scene would be capable of promoting regeneration in the short term as well as paving the way for future anticipated regeneration in the Old Market Place area."

Fairhurst were recently appointed to develop the detailed designs which take into account comments received through an earlier public consultation and a planning application for the scheme has been submitted for the works which will improve the appearance and function of this important town centre street.

Features to be incorporated in the final design include lantern lighting columns, penny farthing-inspired cycle stands and a 22kw vehicle charging point.

The design team says the plans capture the aspirational vision of an attractive, safe and pleasant environment by creating a street where pedestrians feel they can move freely anywhere and where drivers should feel they are a guest.

(MH/JG)