Galashiels Inner Relief Road and Town Centre Traffic Management Scheme

An inner relief road is being constructed around Galashiels town centre, to reduce traffic in the town and alleviate conflict between vehicles and pedestrians.

What is happening at the moment?

The work is split into 'Schemes' as follows:

Scheme 1:
Work at Currie Road is now complete. You can view the archive of past newsletters.
Scheme 2:
This scheme, from Paton Street to Albert Place, is currently being built and will be in place around January 2010. You can see a Scheme Plan of Scheme 2.
Details of road closures and diversions that are necessary for this scheme are as follows:

A full schedule of closures and one-way orders

Details for Phase 1, including a map

Details for Phase 2, including a map

Details for Phase 3, including a map

Details for Phase 4, including a map

Details for Phase 5

Scheme 3:
Ladhope Vale to Bridge Place will be in place around February 2011.
Scheme 4:
Town Centre Traffic Management will be in place in Summer 2011.

The transport "interchange" is linked with the re-introduction of the Waverley rail project and work is likely to be in place by 2013.

Why does Galashiels need a Relief Road?

Roads in Galashiels are likely to come under increased pressure in the future. The number of private cars is set to double over the next 15 to 20 years. This, combined with shopping and business developments in Galashiels, will significantly increase traffic in the town and cause conflict between vehicles and pedestrians, particularly at crossing points in the main shopping areas.

Traffic growth and the possible reintroduction of the Waverley railway to Galashiels will provide the opportunity for the Council to make it possible link up all forms of transport in the town. It is vital for the future of the Borders that the region should be re-connected to the national railway network and travellers will need easy access to a railway/public transport "interchange". (A transport interchange is a facility to allow for co-ordinated changes in methods of travel, for example from rail to bus or taxi).

Through traffic does not contribute significantly to local businesses or to local retail sales. The removal of this unnecessary traffic from the town centre area will free up space and allow environmental improvements for residents and shoppers. Revisions to the internal road network are necessary, in conjunction with the Inner Relief Road, in order to realise the full potential of these improvements.

We are considering different traffic management options for the town to allow existing roads to cope with these links for public transport and cater for increased traffic.

How will roads in Galashiels change?

The Inner Relief Road will be formed by a two-way link from Albert Place to Paton Street, with the roads constructed as part of the proposed "Currie Road Development" and the alteration of Ladhope Vale and Bridge Place to two-way traffic. These roads will then form a route for through traffic to avoid the town centre and relieve congestion.

We are proposing to restrict vehicular access to parts of the town centre and pedestrianise others. The extent to which vehicles are restricted from the town centre will have a significant effect on the safety and comfort of pedestrians. It may also have an impact on shops in the town.

Restrictions may take the form of a pedestrian zone or prohibition on certain types of vehicle. These could be only at certain times of the day. Examples of signs for these are shown below.

These signs may be combined with sign plates to allow vehicular entry for the following:

Access
Permit Holders
Buses
Taxis
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Disabled (Blue) Badge Holders

The main access point to the town centre from the inner relief road will be from Paton Street. Bank Street and High Street will be kept as one way streets to provide a route out of the town centre.

How will parking be affected?

There is currently a planning application being processed for a substantial shopping development in the Currie Road area. If the application is approved, adequate car parking will be needed not only for the proposed development but also to compensate for the number of spaces lost from existing car parks in the area.

Any option to introduce pedestrianisation may restrict parking in some areas. Maintaining access to these areas by a "permit" system or sign access plate would result in these spaces being retained. Both the "permit" system or sign access plate would require enforcement and we would have to administer the issue of permits. These could be issued to residents in the area or be based on existing requirements for staff parking. Some options would restrict on-street public parking but may still allow parking by disabled (blue) badge holders.

The future use of the area near to the proposed transport "interchange" will affect existing public parking. A limited amount of additional car parking will be considered here, which would primarily be for disabled badge holders. The main "park and ride" facility for the railway would be at Tweedbank.

Other parking arrangements in the town will remain largely unchanged but will benefit from improved access, pedestrian links and signing.

Further Information

You can get more information from:

Ewan Doyle,
Programme Manager,
11 Market Street,
Galashiels,
TD1 3AD.

Tel: 01896 661779