A7 Selkirk Update | Pedestrian Improvement Plans

Road authorities Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland and Scottish Borders Council met with local representatives in Selkirk last night to share the next phase in the process to potentially introduce improvements to enhance the safety of pedestrians and other forms of active travel on the A7 in Selkirk town centre.

The proposed safety improvements include:

Introduction of two new sets of traffic signals including pedestrian crossings, at the High Street/Tower Street junction and the Market Place/Ettrick Terrace junction
Removal of the existing pedestrian crossing on Market Place
Introduction of a one-way system on local roads adjacent to the A7, Back Row and High Street.
 

In the meeting, which was held at Selkirk Rugby Club, an insight was provided to MSP Rachael Hamilton, councillors, members of the community council, and traders into the detailed analysis that has been 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 required improvements to the road and footpath alignments.

Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland's South East Network Manager, said: “We’ve been working with our client Transport Scotland and Scottish Borders Council to consider and investigate all potential options for improvement.

“The meeting last night was a great chance to hear initial feedback from representatives of the local community on some of the challenges and opportunities, so that our proposals deliver the safety benefits identified for those using the town centre.

“There is always an element of compromise and collaboration when introducing changes to road layouts. What we are trying to do is get the balance right in terms of increasing safety and ensuring Selkirk continues to thrive, while also ensuring that the A7 continues to operate effectively as a strategic route for Scotland.

“The next steps will be to update the plans then share them with the wider community for more input. It is currently hoped that this will be in the next few weeks.”