Councillors have turned back from a proposal to make a busy Brechin street one-way.
The authority had gone out to consultation with residents and businesses in the Damacre Road area over a plan to put a westward one-way system in place from Southesk Street towards City Road in a bid to ease congestion and provide scope for some additional on-street car parking.
New affordable homes are being built on the site of the old Damacre Centre and roads officials said the scheme could help alleviate problems created by the narrow street and limited visibility for vehicles exiting onto Southesk Street.
However, an opposition level of more than 60% has seen the idea shelved.
Infrastructure services boss Ian Cochrane told communities committee councillors the consultation document was widely circulated to locals and via the council’s website.
He said 21 completed responses were received from individuals and of those eight agreed with the proposal, with 13 against.
“Whilst the number of responses to the consultation was relatively modest, the majority of returned consultation documents expressed a desire for the proposed one-way system in Damacre Road not to proceed.”
Brechin Community Council was against the idea.
Consultees claimed the one-way plan would simply shift traffic problems to the High Street area.
“Making this road one way will just increase the volume of traffic at this junction and create the problem at the other end of the street and increase traffic on the High Street and Union Street, both of which have also had serious accidents in the recent past,” said one respondent.
Another in favour said: “We welcome this proposal especially with the new houses that are to be built.
“The Southesk Street junction is treacherous and this proposal would reduce the risk. As a resident of nearly 30 years in this street I have witnessed a growing tendency for motorists to speed incredibly fast in either direction.”
Brechin and Edzell SNP councillor Kenny Braes said: “There seemed to be a fair bit of road safety concern around this area.
“I suggested we look at the possibility of making it one-way and a clear majority of residents have indicated they want things to stay as they area so I think that is the best way forward.”
