A revamp of Blairgowrie town centre has been shelved after outcry from politicians and business owners.
Council chiefs announced work on improvements in and around the Wellmeadow area would begin this morning and continue throughout November.
But Perth and Kinross Council has now agreed to pull the plug on the work following concerns raised by traders.
They claimed the work would cause widespread disruption in the run-up to Christmas and could affect events like the festive lights switch-on ceremony and Remembrance Day parade.
The planned refurbishment is aimed at enhancing traffic flow following the switch-off of the area’s hugely unpopular traffic lights earlier this year.
A local authority spokesman confirmed the work has been rescheduled.
“Following approaches from the business community in Blairgowrie, the works due to start on November 2 have been postponed until early 2016,” he said.
“The works were to involve the removal of the existing traffic signal junction and making permanent the pedestrian crossing facilities on each major approach of the Wellmeadow and associated miscellaneous work to finalise the current trial arrangement which has been widely welcomed in the town.”
Councillor Caroline Shiers said she was delighted the council had listened to locals.
“The (switch-off) trial took place in June and it was agreed the lights would not go back on shortly after,” she said.
“To then delay removal until very close to the Christmas period, which our retailers rely on, was unacceptable in my view.
“I would also like the opportunity for community consultation on the final location of all the crossing points so we can ensure everyone knows what is happening.
“The lesson to be learned from this whole episode is communication, and unfortunately I think this again shows it is lacking in relation to the work proposed.”
Fellow councillor Bob Ellis added: “Businesses were concerned that this would have been the third time there was disruption in Blairgowrie centre in the run-up to Christmas.”
Shopkeeper Mark Coupar, who runs the WM Coupar electronics and repair shop, said: “It’s certainly good news that they have put this work off, because it would have been a nightmare to have that going on so close to Christmas.
“But they have to bear in mind that after Christmas Blairgowrie is very busy with the ski season and it would be best to avoid that time as well.”
The Wellmeadow signals were removed in June after a two-week switch-off trial gathered widespread support from residents and businesses.
Locals had complained that the traffic lights were causing unnecessary tailbacks and lengthy delays.
Temporary pedestrian crossings have been put in place while council officers formalised the new measures.