Drop-in consultation on Arbroath Place for Everyone scheme

The drop-in will be held at the Abbeygate Centre this Saturday. June’s trial, however, was not popular with some locals. (Wallace Ferrier)

A public drop-in event this weekend will be the next stage of Angus Council’s consultation on its Place for Everyone project for Arbroath.

The drop-in will take place on Saturday (December 11) at the Abbeygate Centre between 10am and 5pm.

In 2019, the Scottish Government awarded the council funding under the Sustrans Places for Everyone programme to design and develop an exemplary walking and cycling route in Arbroath.

Accessible to all and connecting destinations throughout the town, the proposals for the £13m scheme – £4m of which is being provided by the council - aims to reconnect areas and local facilities to create a seafront people want to use.

The £13m scheme will be financed by Sustrans and Angus Council.

The town was the first in Scotland to receive funding under the programme.

Consultants, Arcadis have been appointed to progress the project aims to improve pedestrian and cycling provision, make better use of green spaces and develop links from the railway and bus station to the town centre.

The main dual carriageway that runs through Arbroath will be redesigned to better-use available road-space while keeping the traffic flowing.

A street trial to allow people to experience the reallocated space was held in June along the A92 Ladyloan to Burnside Drive, with some lanes restricted and signal timings altered.

The four-week trial used temporary traffic management in the form of cones, bollards and signs to reallocate some of the road space for pedestrians and cyclists, replicating the main changes that will be implemented when the scheme is constructed.

The exercise was not well received by some Arbroath residents, however, with the council being accused on social media of a lack of consultation before the trial took place and the entire scheme being a waste of money.

A council spokeperson said: “The drop-in event will be held on December 11 between 10am and 5pm and will feature 3D models of the proposed changes with members of the project team available to talk to and answer questions. Feedback forms will also be available for people to complete.”

The full plan and further details of the project can be found at https://shapingangus.co.uk/arbroath_places_for_everyone