Members of Angus Council's infrastructure services committee will be asked to approve in principle a one way system, southbound, between Victoria Street and Myre Road, and to approve a public consultation when they meet in Forfar next Tuesday afternoon.

Calls for a one-way system down this stretch of Castle Street have been made on numerous occasions in recent years, resurfacing again last year after a temporary one-way system operated during the redevelopment works at The Cross.

A straw poll carried out by members of Forfar Community Council during a "meet the people" exercise in the town centre last July found the vast majority of those questioned supported a return to a one-way system.

All but one of the people polled on the day stated they were in favour of the one-way traffic flow from the Canmore Street junction to the entrance into Myre Road, although some local businesses opposed the suggestion.

Last September we reported the possible closure of the Lochlands junction and the effect it would have on traffic flow in Forfar could put one-way plans on the back burner, but they will be on the agenda again next Tuesday in a report by Eric Lowson, director of infrastructure services.

He will ask councillors to note the completion of the traffic management review for Forfar town centre and approve the one way system, south-bound, between Victoria Street and Myre Road.

In his report Mr Lowson said: "The council has established the need to undertake a review of the traffic management in Forfar town centre as a key action in its Corporate Plan.

"The Head of Roads has been progressing this review but progress has been delayed pending consideration of the Transport Scotland proposals for the Lochlands Junction on the trunk road (A90/A932).

"Environmental improvement works were undertaken around the Cross during 2009 and involved temporary traffic management measures for the duration of the works with a south-bound one-way system operating in Castle Street. This system proved successful and the Community Council and others considered that such a traffic system could have advantages on a permanent basis."

A further traffic study of the overall traffic management in Forfar has been undertaken which includes the main approach roads into the town, the perimeter routes around the town centre and traffic conditions within the centre, in particular High street, Academy Street/St James Road and Castle Street.

The study also found there were high frequency public transport services in the High Street, with improved quality facilities provided in 2003/2004; there were centrally located taxi stances; shared use cycle tracks on the main approach roads at Brechin Road, Glamis Road and Kirriemuir Road; controlled crossing points or pedestrian refuge islands at appropriate locations on main routes and pedestrian phases at controlled signalised junctions; and school crossing patrols at school sites and 20 mph speed restrictions at access / egress times.

The main town centre routes both at St James Road/Academy Street and High Street in the main cope adequately with present levels of traffic.
Future developments that may influence significantly traffic conditions were also assessed as was the initial proposals by Transport Scotland for revised traffic management at the A90 Lochlands junction which would have resulted in major traffic flow implications for Glamis Road/High Street.

However, the current proposals not to prohibit the north/east right turn from the A90 to the A932 Dundee Road will avoid the likelihood of displacement of traffic entering Forfar from the A90 Lochlands junction to the A90 Glamis junction and hence to the Glamis Road and Westport junction.

A number of options for improvement were considered including pedestrianisation, a one-way traffic, north-bound and one-way traffic, southbound.

Mr Lowson adds in his report: "A further option was considered restricting the limit of one way (south bound) on Castle Street to just north of the Myre Road junction. This would allow access to Myre Car Park and resolve the Queen Street access difficulties for long vehicles.

"The further advantage of the one-way south bound proposal is that it has already been trialled on a temporary basis at the time of the recent environmental improvements at Town House and found to operate satisfactorily.

"It would also leave future opportunities to introduce more on-street parking spaces in Castle Street and widen footways. This is the preferred option."

He concluded the option to introduce one way south bound traffic in Castle Street, between Victoria Street and Myre Road, should be widely consulted, with plans displayed in the local library allowing opportunity for the public to assess the implications of such a scheme and comment on the proposals in advance of a public meeting to discuss the options. The results of the consultation will be the subject of a future report to the committee.