A7 Selkirk Exhibition

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK

PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland and Scottish Borders Council are working in partnership to make it easier and safer for people not in vehicles to move through Selkirk.

Any improvements made for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair and buggy users have to ensure that the A7 continues to work well as one of Scotland’s key strategic trunk routes.

Technical specialist roads expertise is being combined with your local insights to develop practical and suitable improvements for Selkirk town centre.

BEAR Scotland maintains and manages the A7 trunk road through Selkirk on behalf of Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland is Scotland’s national transport agency and as such is responsible for the A7 trunk road in Selkirk.

BEAR’s remit includes road maintenance, safety inspections, winter services and traffic management to keep trunk routes operating safely and efficiently.

It sets the strategy, standards and funding for how the route is managed and improved.

One of BEAR’s responsibilities is to identify and deliver improvements to make it safer and easier for people walking, wheeling and cycling along these busy routes, where possible.

Transport Scotland works with partners, including BEAR Scotland and Scottish Borders Council to make sure the road is maintained in good condition, traffic is managed safely and improvements are delivered.

Scottish Borders Council manages Selkirk’s local roads (non-trunk roads).

This includes routine maintenance, repairs and keeping streets safe and accessible. The local authority also co-ordinates streetscape improvements, traffic management, parking and winter services for local roads.

The council supports the A7 corridor safety improvements, while also helping to provide safer conditions for people walking, wheeling and cycling on the local network.

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK

PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

PROJECT OBJECTIVES Improve safety and ease of movement for people walking, wheeling, cycling and using buggies in Selkirk town centre Address issues identified by the community, particularly in busy and constrained areas Improve crossing points and the overall pedestrian experience Work in collaboration with the local community Balance local needs with the A7’s role as a key strategic route Safer vehicle manoeuvres at Market Place/Ettrick Terrace and High Street/Tower Street junctions

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK

PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

YOUR FEEDBACK Public consultation to introduce the project and encourage participation included a survey that was launched in early November 2023 and a public drop-in session at Victoria Hall in Selkirk.

Local people were invited to share their views on walking and crossing conditions in the town centre Findings identified key hotspots where concerns around pedestrian safety and accessibility were most frequently raised: Market Place/Ettrick Terrace junction (Fleece Corner) High Street/Tower Street junction Tower Street leading to Hillside Terrace 131 People took part in the survey

244 Contributions made to the survey map

981 People engaged with the project overall

Unsafe crossing conditions at key junctions

Frequent near misses between vehicles and pedestrians

Poor visibilty and sightlines on bends and corners

Narrow pavements forcing pedestrians close to traffic

Large vehicles mounting kerbs or encroaching on footways

Traffic speed and driver behaviour creating safety risks

Selkirk Town Centre

Ettrick Terrace/Market Place (Fleece Corner)

High Street/Tower Street

Tower Street to Hillside Terrace

Pedestrian desire lines Survey These are the most common routes taken by pedestrians to cross the A7

INVESTIGATIONS Topographical surveys carried out in the town centre to understand existing ground and road conditions Pedestrian and traffic surveys completed at around 30 locations across Selkirk, including the A7 and key routes

High Street/Ettrick Terrace

High Street/Tower Street

Journey time surveys helped to understand how traffic currently moves around the town and identify alternative routes

High Street

Traffic Flow Survey The traffic flow times and types of vehicles travelling through Selkirk town centre

Traffic modelling was used to show how changes on the A7 could affect traffic at key junctions and surrounding streets Collaborative working across roads authorities to ensure accurate modelling and to anticipate and explore safe ways to manage any changes in traffic

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK

PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

THE PROPOSAL Detailed analysis was carried out on accommodating the new traffic signals and one-way system.

This covers changes to parking, relocation of bus stops, conflicts with public utilities and improvements to the road and footpath alignments.

The following boards show more detail on each area: Board 1 Fleece Corner (Ettrick Terrace / Market Place) Board 2 High Street Board 3 High Street & Tower Street Board 4 Local Road Changes (SBC)

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

1

FLEECE CORNER

Extend parking restrictions To make space for the new signals and stop parked cars blocking traffic at the junction on Ettrick Terrace. This change will provide: Smoother traffic flow through the junction Around 5 parking spaces removed New signalised crossing To create a safe route across Ettrick Road on a corner with limited visibility. This change provides: Enhanced safe route for pedestrians and those using wheels No left turn for HGVs and buses There isn’t enough space for large vehicles to turn safely from West Port onto Ettrick Terrace. This change will provide: Safer space for pedestrians Less risk of vehicles overrunning pavements (though relatively few vehicles currently do this turn currently) Move bus stop on West Port The current bus stop location would be in the way of the new signals. This change will provide: Less traffic queuing behind buses Improved traffic flow Widen the footway More space to walk and wait safely near the crossing. This change will provide: Easier for people to pass each other More space for wheelchairs and prams Reduced crowding at crossing points

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

2

HIGH STREET

Traffic signals (new junction layout with Tower Street) To provide safer crossings for pedestrians and help vehicles pass more safely on the A7 bends, where large vehicles take up a lot of space. This change will provide: Safer, controlled pedestrian crossings Reduced risk of collisions on the bends Widening the footway (up to 3m) To give people more space to pass each other and to avoid blocking the footway at crossing points. This change will provide: More room for pedestrians Better access for wheelchairs and prams Less crowding near crossings Footway build-out (for signals) To create space for the new signals and improve visibility for drivers. This change will provide: Easier visibility of signals More space for pedestrians at crossings Changes to bus stop and loading bay To make room for the relocated bus stop the existing loading bay would be removed. This change will allow: Maintainance of bus services and timetables Better layout for buses at the junction Removal of existing signalised crossing The current crossing will no longer be needed once the new signals are in place. This change makes way for the new layout and will: Aid smooth traffic flow Removal of redundant equipment

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

3

HIGH STREET & TOWER STEET

High Street one-way (SBC) To prevent traffic building up at the new signals and keep vehicles moving. Introducing a one-way system on this part of the High Street will provide: Reduced delays on the A7 Shorter crossing distances for pedestrians Opportunity to add more parking spaces Wider footway and narrower crossing If High Street becomes one-way, space can be reallocated to pedestrians. This change will provide: Shorter and safer crossings More space for people to walk and wait Additional parking on High Street (SBC) To help replace parking spaces lost on Tower Street and Ettrick Terrace.

Remove existing parking spaces (Tower Street) Parked cars would interfere with traffic leaving the proposed new signalised junction. This change would mean: Smoother traffic flow through the junction Reduced risk of vehicles mounting the footway Around 11 parking spaces removed Widen the footway (up to 2m) To provide more space for pedestrians near the crossing on this tight corner. This change will provide: More space for people to pass each other Less crowding on the footway Safer space for people walking and waiting

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

4

VARIOUS LOCAL ROAD CHANGES

High Street one-way To prevent congestion at the new signals and keep vehicles moving.

Introducing a one-way system on this part of the High Street will: Reduce delays on the A7 Mean shorter crossing distances for pedestrians Create the opportunity to add more parking spaces Change Market Square Car Park access To help traffic flow effectively around the signals the exit and entrance to the car park will be switched. Depending on proposed changes to Kirk Wynd, this will provide: Easier access in and out of the car park Reduced waiting times Change direction of one-way systems on Kirk Wynd and The Valley Stopping drivers using these routes as a shortcut to avoid the new signals. This change will mean: The junction works more effectively Less chance of ‘rat running’ Additional parking on High Street To help replace parking spaces lost on Tower Street and Ettrick Terrace.

Potential one-way on Back Row Potential for the northern section of Back Row to be included as part of the one-way, if there is support. This change will mean vehicles would no longer meet oncoming traffic along this section.

Signal Controlled Crossing outside of the new Co-Op. SBC would propose to install a signalised pedestrian crossing outside of the Co-Op. This change will improve pedestrian safety for crossing at this location, both for the store and safer routes to school (Knowepark).

Bleachfield Road Traffic Calming Traffic calming will also be provided on Bleachfield Road. This change will mean less chance of ‘rat running’.

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

THE PROPOSAL OVERVIEW Benefits Safer pedestrian crossing options especially at locations with limited visibility More pavement space for people walking, wheeling and waiting to cross Reduced risk for pedestrians from large vehicles at tight turns through the town A clearer, better organised layout for all road users

Impacts Reduced on-street parking Slightly increased journey times on A7 through Selkirk

SELKIRK A7 SELKIRK PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS

KEEP IN TOUCH

On behalf of Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland and Scottish Borders Council, thank you for joining us

Are the benefits of the scheme worth the potential impacts?

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SECommunity@bearscotland.co.uk