OVER TWO YEARS after plans were granted for improvements to Elgin’s main bus depot members of a council committee will learn of renewed efforts to begin working on the site.
In what looks likely to be a very busy meeting of the economic development and infrastructure services committee tomorrow, a report will be considered that could see Elgin BID take the lead on a string of improvements for the bus station.
New and improved lighting and a new PA system are amongst the measures being proposed alongside improvements to the shelters and replacement seating areas and railings. Signs that would make it clearer for people to find the station from the town centre are also being proposed in a report that says the current station is “generally tired and failing”.
Holding back the plans, however, is that at this stage it is not known what the measures will cost – with the local business group seeking only local authority backing for the idea.
In August Forres councillor George Alexander hit out at the condition of the bus station, saying that he had been excited by plans put forward two years ago but now wondered if these would ever happen.
He said: “The town and the wider Moray area depends on tourism, but we have a station where smokers smoke in non-smoking areas and gulls do their business whenever they choose.
“If we are serious about attracting tourists to Elgin then we must do something about the bus station – and if Elgin wants to be an attractive town it needs to clean itself up a bit.”
The bus station is owned by Moray Council and leased to bus operator Stagecoach – but last night the bus company pledged their support, a spokesman saying: “We are proud to support many local initiatives – especially those that will aid the communities in which we operate.
“We welcome this news and would be happy to work alongside Elgin BID on improvement proposals.”