Active Travel Improvements

Moss Street Active Travel Consultation eForm

The Levelling Up Fund includes funding for Active Travel measures which seek to improve north-south travel for pedestrians and cyclists through the centre of Elgin.

The proposed active travel measures seek to reallocate road space on Lossie Wynd, High Street (East), Commerce Street, Greyfriars Street and Moss Street to provide dedicated space for cyclists to travel against the flow of the traffic. There are also associated improvements for pedestrians on these streets, including the introduction of a new footway on the western side of Lossie Wynd, between the High Street and St Giles Road.

Proposals within the town centre include changing the direction of traffic flow on Commerce Street, making the High Street East (between The Plainstones and Lossie Wynd) one-way eastbound and changing the existing cycle route on Lossie Wynd to remove the low-level kerbs.

Outside the town centre area, Moss Street and Greyfriars Street will see widened footways and provision of a contra-flow cycle lane, through the reduction in carriageway width and the introduction of one-way traffic. There are two options for Moss Street to enable the provision of the Active Travel infrastructure.

Option 1 – Moss Street becomes one-way Northbound from the Laichmoray roundabout to Greyfriars Street; and

Option 2 – Moss Street is closed to general traffic at the Laichmoray roundabout to create a ‘quiet street’ traffic and from Institution Road it becomes one-way Northbound.

For both options, Greyfriars Street would become one-way eastbound from South Street to Glover Street.

To implement the changes to the roads to enable the active travel infrastructure, changes will be required to the existing Waiting Restrictions Orders with a new Traffic Regulation Order promoted for the proposed one-way traffic flows and changes at the Laichmoray roundabout required for Option 2. There will be formal consultation when the draft Orders are published. A summary of the proposed changes to the Orders is provided. See committee report of 17 June 2025 here

Map

Overview Drawing Greyfriars Street Drawing Lossie Wynd Drawing

Moss Street South & Junction Drawing Moss Street Drawing Moss Street South Drawing South Street & Moss Street & Junction Drawing

FAQs

Lossie Wynd

The proposed design of Lossie Wynd creates a footway on the western side of the road to enable safe access for pedestrians for the buildings. This means that there will not be space to accommodate delivery vehicles in front of the businesses.

Rear access is available for some premises and businesses will be encouraged, where possible, to use them. There is also a delivery bay available on High Street east.

Footways will have kerbs, except where there are crossing points, and the existing low kerbs between the footway and the cycle route will be removed.
We will work with the businesses to find solutions where customers park elsewhere rather than stop in front of businesses and block the cycle route. There are nearby car parks which can be used and disabled parking on High Street east.
Customers will need to park in one of the nearby car parks. Stopping on the road/cycle route will be discouraged.
Traffic Management will be put in place and the bollards suspended to allow the use of the High Street east and Commerce Street.
A small layby will be provided for drop off and pick up at the Sheltered Accommodation.

Commerce Street

The disabled parking spaces will be removed. The Council has already agreed to the removal of the parking spaces, and alternative locations for disabled parking have been identified on the High Street east and west.
Taxis will be able to access Commerce Street before 11am and after 4pm.
Deliveries and vehicles associated with home deliveries will need to stop on the road to off load/pick up. The loading bays in front of the take-aways will be removed.
Yes, however between 11am and 4pm they will require a fob/the code to gain access.
Access will be permitted for security vehicles. The jewellers will get a fob/the code.

Moss Street

In Option 1 northbound traffic will still be permitted to travel up Moss Street. However southbound traffic will be required to use the A96 and Maisondieu Road or Station Road.

In Option 2, through traffic will not be permitted to use Moss Street, and again, will be required to travel via the A96 and Maisondieu Road or Station Road.

Traffic using the adjacent side roads as ‘rat runs’ will be monitored and further measures to control access to/from Maisondieu Road may be required if traffic levels significantly increase.

In both Options the parking to the south of Institution Road will be reviewed with the focus being to provide parking for residents and businesses. In Option 1, most of the existing parking will need to be removed. Whereas in Option 2 more of the parking can be retained.
In Option 2, refuse collection vehicles will be permitted to enter from Laichmoray Roundabout, via an access control measure.
By providing a sufficient area for box vans, transit vans, and cars to turn as part of the design of the closure and using no stopping restrictions to prevent parking within it
In Option 2 there is sufficient space at the end of the road for the post van to turn
In Option 2, the delivery vehicles will be permitted to enter from Laichmoray Roundabout, via an access control measure.
In Option 2, prior notice for large delivery vehicles will need to be given to the Council who will arrange temporary access for the vehicle from the southern end of Moss Street.

Greyfriars Street

Greyfriars Street needs to be one-way as it connects directly to Moss Street. It is eastbound to accommodate exiting vehicles from South Street and vehicles travelling north on Moss Street.

 

There will be additional traffic using Abbey Street to access the Greyfriars Street car park and businesses on that street.

However, in Option 1 in addition to Abbey Street, access to Greyfriars Street will still be available via the southern end of Moss Street, South Street and Francis Place. Minimising the amount of additional traffic using Abbey Street to access Greyfriars Street.

In Option 2 Access to Greyfriars Street, access from the southern end of Moss Street will not be available, leading to marginally more traffic using that route to the schools.

Vehicles travelling through this area are l at low speeds and as part of the 20mph project all roads will be 20mph throughout the day.

There will be some additional traffic using Abbey Street as it will become the route for residents of Moss Street to access their properties.

Traffic using the adjacent side roads as ‘rat runs’ will be monitored. Including Abbey Street, and further measures to control access to/from Maisondieu Road may be required if traffic levels significantly increase.

Lossie Wynd

Lossie Wynd/High Street

Commerce Street

Moss Street/ Commerce Street/South Street

Moss Street

 

Timeline

30 July 2025
The initial consultation will run over the Summer and include an event at Williamson Hall (3pm to 7pm) focussed on the proposed changes to Moss Street and Greyfriars Street.
22 August 2025
The closing date for responses to the initial consultation is 5pm.