Council chiefs have agreed to ditch hands-free traffic lights, less than four months after they were rolled out across Perth and Kinross.
In the first scheme of its kind in Scotland, Do Not Press signs were installed at all of the region’s pedestrian crossings in an effort to curb coronavirus spread.
Traffic signals were also recalibrated to ensure an automatic pedestrian phase, meaning they turn to red even if no one is waiting to cross.
The signs are now being removed and engineers will spend four weeks returning the traffic signals to the way they were.
It follows a surge in complaints that while the scheme may help keep pedestrians safe, automated signals were causing unnecessary traffic hold-ups, congestion and more air pollution from idling vehicles.
Thousands of pounds worth of Sustrans funding went into designing, producing and installing the signs. They will be replaced by new notices, urging pedestrians to observe the Scottish Government’s FACTS Covid advice.
It is the latest safety scheme Perth and Kinross Council has been forced to rethink in recent weeks.
Last month, the authority agreed to shift wooden street furniture from High Street – aimed at helping with social distancing – after complaints it had caused a significant drop in trade in nearby shops. A new pedestrianised zone at the same location was also re-opened to traffic.
Earlier this week, The Courier revealed plans to ban traffic outside a dozen schools has been paused after complaints parents had not been consulted.
Each plan had been fast-tracked using emergency pandemic powers, meaning they could be set up without a standard consultation period which usually lasts several months.
A council spokesman confirmed the blue Do Not Touch signs would be taken down.
“Pedestrian crossings were switched to automatic to help public safety by eliminating the need for pedestrians to touch surfaces unnecessarily,” he said. “As traffic levels have started rising following lockdown we have now, following consultation with elected members, decided to start restoring crossings to their original settings.”
Work will begin later this month.
The council’s environment and infrastructure convener Angus Forbes agreed it was time to drop the scheme. “It was the right decision at the right time, but in my view it’s also the right decision to revert to the push button method now,” he said.
Perth City Centre’s SNP councillor Eric Drysdale said: “I have been pressing repeatedly to have the Tory-led council’s decision to introduce an automatic green man phase reversed, as I could clearly see the seriously detrimental effect these measures were having on traffic flow, even when traffic was a bit lighter during the summer months.
“Not only was this causing growing driver frustration and increasing traffic congestion at many pinch points, idling traffic was making air quality worse.
“I am delighted that this has now been recognised. Unfortunately it looks like it may take several weeks to make these changes but I shall be pressing officers to prioritise the most congested locations.”
