Clampdown on ‘cheeky’ motorists who use Elgin as an A96 shortcut
‘Cheeky’ motorists using Elgin’s town centre as an A96 shortcut will be clamped down on as part of an active travel redesign.
Council officers will now move ahead with their plan to use levelling up funding to divert vehicle traffic from Elgin’s centre streets.
Councillors are hopeful the proposals will deter the “bad habits” of drivers, by changing traffic flow and creating a dedicated link through town for cyclists.
The “full pedestrianisation” of the town centre will also include rise and fall bollards installed on popular streets.
Closing Off ‘cheeky’ Rat Run Through Town
Senior Engineer for the council’s transportation department, Diane Anderson, said the aim is to deter motorists from making “quite a cheeky cut” through the town centre.
The “cheeky” route involves road users turning off the A96 and cutting past Elgin Cemetery, travelling past the Laichmoray Hotel before rejoining the A96 from Lossie Wynd.
She said: “We are trying to deter that sort of behaviour.
“Keep the traffic that is through traffic on the outskirts and keep the residential areas for those who are going to those zones.”
‘Bad habits’ of town centre drivers continue
Elgin North councillor Jérémie Fernandes remarked he was glad to see plans “finally” moving ahead.
He said: “The full pedestrianisation of the town centre is something that we have been looking forward to.
“The bad habits have come back and we see loads and loads of cars driving through the town centre when they shouldn’t be.”
Fellow Elgin North councillor Sandy Keith said: “They are a very comprehensive set of proposals and I look forward to see what the outcome from the consultations is going to be.
“It tries to get the balance between car users, pedestrians and cyclists,” he added.
He also warned of drivers using nearby Duff Avenue as an alternative once Moss Street closes off.
However officers told Councillor Keith any other sneaky routes were also being addressed.
What are the plans?
The changes across the town centre will come from Elgin’s share of the £18.3 million of levelling up funding.
An active travel link will connect Moss Street, Commerce Street and Lossie Wynd with a continuous cycle path, changing the flow of traffic in places and restricting access for vehicles.
Also included are a range of rise and fall bollards on the High Street, Batchen Street and Thunderton Place.
When will work begin?
The town centre changes will be underway by March 2027 at the latest, as this is the funding deadline.
However, council officers believe work could go ahead a year earlier in spring 2026 and be completed by 2027.
The projects will be completed by a single contractor to “maximise the efficiency” of the development.
The council now begins the process of consulting on the plans, beginning with a town centre event on July 12.
Related article: One-way systems and cycle lanes proposed for Elgin town centre
