First bus service want rethink on Cowgate closure

Last week’s full council meeting heard a report from the Depute Chief Executive, Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets, Thomas Glen, on the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Recovery Planning.

This follows the ‘Your Kirky Consultation’ carried out by Kirkintilloch Community Council last month to seek views on how to make more space in the town centre to ensure shops and businesses can open again while maintaining physical distancing.

Specific feedback was requested on closing of Cowgate to traffic from the library to Catherine Street; the combined widening of pavements, changing on street parking and providing cycle ways along the rest of Cowgate from Catherine Street south along Townhead; a review of town centre parking; and closing the bottom section of Union Street to make safe space around Regent Gardens.

The survey generated 625 responses, with 72.9 per cent favouring some form of closure along Cowgate with 14.3 per cent against.

Around two-thirds (66.8 per cent) were also in favour of the interventions on the rest of Cowgate, 68.1 per cent agreed with closing part of Union Street, and a high number also want a review of parking.

Mr Glen said: “There is a risk that if people do not feel safe to travel to and then use local businesses, they will opt for travelling elsewhere and the local economy could suffer even more in the months to come in what will be a crucial time in individual and collective recovery.

“Supporting local businesses adapt to physical distancing requirements will be a key theme in local Economic Recovery Plans and communication may assist in gathering ideas and concerns in their respective locations.”

However, First Glasgow believes the proposals while ‘well intentioned’ don’t take into consideration the needs of bus users.

Operations director Duncan Cameron said: “First Glasgow is dismayed and concerned that current proposals to close part of Cowgate are being progressed without proper thought or consultation about its potential impact.

“Our network provides 90 per cent of bus services in the Kirkintilloch area and the closure will make it impossible to operate service 89 with links to Kilsyth, Hayston and Bishopbriggs, while Hayston will be left without any service.

“Most other services would also be affected with longer journey times or a loss of access to three busy bus stops and parts of the town centre.

“The closure is being proposed to improve social distancing, but Cowgate has already benefitted from considerable pavement widening so the current proposal seems unnecessary.

“Kirkintilloch town centre is dependent on the bus network for much of its footfall and however well intentioned, these changes would be disastrous at a time when businesses look to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

“Even at this stage we would urge the local authority to rethink this proposal to ensure that good public transport links are maintained.”

The meeting heard SPT had also expressed concerns, and councillors decided to continue the matter until August 20.

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