A petition to overturn a council roads decision has opened up a can of worms relating to traffic and parking in Forfar.
In June the local authority chose to restrict most of Castle Street to a one-way system for a year, which caused what one business owner calls a ”cowboys and indians” situation.
Six months into the trial period, it has emerged that a petition to revert to two lanes has gained widespread support among the street’s businesses.
Fishmonger and poulterer Alastair Cameron and his son surveyed businesses and say they received 92% support for their campaign.
However, the owner of one of Forfar’s oldest shops says restoring the two-way street may not be the heal-all businesses are looking for.
Jarvis Brothers clothiers is situated in a prime spot to gauge the number of pedestrians using Castle Street and the effect the one-way system has had on traffic.
Owner Charles Jarvis said he had supported the petition, but felt there are a number of factors which are contributing to a drop in town-centre custom.
He spoke at the initial consultation as an objector. He told The Courier: ”At first we thought the traffic was going more slowly and there was less of it, but in the last couple of months it has really sped up and some people can’t get across the road.
”Some days it looks like a western film with riders going round and round the wagon train.”
However, Mr Jarvis believes the lack of parking is a consistent gripe the council would do well to address.
”I know some customers who park outside the store but there is so little space in the town they are complaining about it. We’ve had free parking for a long time now, but there’s never any spaces, so what’s the point?”
Meanwhile the owner of one of the smaller family-run shops, who asked not to be named, said takings and footfall had gone down measurably since the changes, but it is too hard to say whether that is the cause.
He said: ”Every day I see a number of cars coming the wrong way down the street, just looking to save time for parking. This is especially true in the morning.
”It’s all very well nipping past a diversion sign for 20 metres if it’s for access to your house or business, but this road’s only a few hundred metres long and some of the antics I’ve seen take the biscuit.”
A council spokesman said: ”We received a petition from the local traders a week ago and will take their views into account at the end of the trial period. We will also include their opinions in the assessment of the scheme.”