VIEWS are being sought on road layout changes under plans to transform Greenock’s traditional high street.
Inverclyde Council, in partnership with active travel organisation Sustrans, wants to make West Blackhall Street more attractive and accessible for shoppers and visitors.
A key feature of the project is introducing one-way traffic flow along the length of the street, with the direction of travel being from Westburn Street to Grey Place.
People can now have their say on the roads proposals as part of the formal consultation process.
There would also be a 20mph speed limit, a new one-way cycle path from Grey Place towards the Oak Mall, removal of parking spaces from one side of West Blackhall Street and retention of the current on-street parking along Dalrymple Street.
The proposals aim to create a vibrant area which is accessible for all by providing additional space for pedestrians and cyclists and new public realm areas with additional seating and trees to enhance the environment, whilst maintaining vehicle access.
The various roads proposals are now available to view and people have until Thursday 1 September 2022 to have their say.
Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: “This is another positive step forward towards the redevelopment of West Blackhall Street to make it more attractive and accessible for everyone.
“There are lots of changes being proposed to change the layout of roads and pavements to allow this crucial regeneration project to move forward so it’s important that people take time to look over these proposals and have their say during this consultation period.
“The aim here is to not only breathe new life into Greenock’s traditional high street but to make it fit for the 21st century with more opportunities for active travel, such as walking, cycling and wheeling, and to make it a more desirable area to spend time in, whether that is for business or leisure.”
Traffic regulation orders being proposed include:
— Amend the one-way operation of West Blackhall Street so that the road is open over its full length and is one-way from the Oak Mall towards Grey Place.
— Introduce a one-way cycle lane from Grey Place towards the Oak Mall.
— Introduce a 20mph speed limit.
— Introduce a weight limit of 26 tonnes on West Blackhall Street and roads joining it.
— Amendments to the parking restrictions to remove parking from one side of West Blackhall Street and permanently retain parking on Dalrymple Street that was introduced to support Covid-19 recovery.
— Re-determine various sections of road and footway to another use — road becoming footway, road becoming cycle path, footway becoming road.
The various roads proposals are available in full at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/tro.
