Changes are being proposed at two Paisley town centre junctions to make bus journeys better and deliver improvements for road users and pedestrians.

Renfrewshire Council has secured Transport Scotland Bus Partnership funding to deliver improvements at the junctions of Glasgow Road, Mill Street, Gauze Street and Incle Street; and at Gauze Street, Cotton Street and Lawn Street.

Improvements include a bus and taxi lane on Glasgow Road with traffic light technology to give priority to buses running behind schedule.

The current Gauze Street junction would be replaced with a roundabout to help bus services finishing at Paisley town centre to turn and start their return journey more efficiently.

There’s also new signal-controlled crossings being added at Incle Street and Gauze Street and two lanes for all traffic turning right at Glasgow Road.

Initial engagement with businesses and organisations around both junctions considered their needs and the updated plans are now being shared for feedback.

Councillor Michelle Campbell, Convener of the Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “It’s important we do everything we can to make it easier for people to use public transport and these improvements will support quicker, more reliable bus journeys for passengers travelling around Paisley town centre.

“The proposals have been carefully considered to balance the needs of everyone using the junctions and will also deliver improvements for all road users and pedestrians.”

Other changes would see the Incle Street slip road become a left-turn at the junction, with traffic flowing continuously – supporting slower traffic speeds and creating an improved area outside St Mirin’s Cathedral.

The introduction of the bus lane will remove the slip road and option for traffic to turn left from Glasgow Road onto Mill Street, with vehicles instead able to use Cotton Street.

Cotton Street would be altered to one road, with two-way traffic, the current northbound section of the road being closed to traffic, creating extended pedestrianised space at Paisley Abbey.

Councillor Campbell added: “Businesses and organisations around the junction gave us their initial views and we’ve factored this in wherever possible, adding loading bays and ensuring we maintain the same levels of on-street parking.

“Now we are sharing the updated plans and asking for any feedback over a four-week period before the project moves to the next stage.”

Full details of all the changes and what they mean for bus users, road users and pedestrians are available now at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/paisley-junctions.

The Council is contacting residents, business owners and organisations around the junction directly and feedback can be provided before Friday 22 December 2023.

Following the feedback period, construction work would get underway in 2024, starting at the Glasgow Road junction.

Feedback can be provided by calling 0300 300 0380, emailing ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk or writing to: For the attention of Transportation & Development Manager, Environment, Housing and Infrastructure, Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1BR.


Photo: Gauze Street / Cotton Street / Lawn Street Junction
Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Council


Photo: Glasgow Road / Mill Street / Gauze Street / Incle Street Junction
Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Council

By Ricky Kelly

Main writer for Renfrewshire News

69 thought on “Proposals published for Paisley town centre junction improvements”
  1. aaay.lets fk the roads up again.McGills use their own priorities. They constantly go through the red lights at Smithills St going through to Abercorn St.As does the taxis.

  2. We’re the wee shops on that junction not removed 20 odd years ago to put around about in then

  3. and another thing..just get rid of Mcgills…they are awful and ruined the transport network since they came in

  4. Why do we need a change just for the buses and taxi’s? Waste of money and will just cause more congestion. Bus route in Gallowhill to be changed just to suit Mcgills that route has been the same for over 30 years but because they ask they get.

    When are you going to fix the road surface at Weir st etc. Maybe also improve parking facilities in busy areas to stop people parking outside shops near junctions like Glasgow Rd at Mill St for example Reducing the road width on Cotton st a great idea (not) taking away vital car parking for people to get to the council buildings.

    This idea is definitely someone who does’t live in the town and cant actually see how the traffic system operates.The worst thing that happened in the town was closing the high street all those years ago.

  5. Welcome to more traffic jam in paisley . Cycle lane and now bus lane all other road user have no rights just sit in traffic peak hours.

  6. I may be wrong. But has the council not just spent a fortune putting in new traffic lights and updating the islands in the middle of the roads with new railings and drop curbs..

  7. Taking away the slip roads at at the junction at Mill St/Glasgow Rd/Gauze St/Incle St will only cause traffic to go through Seedhill and the proposed roundabout.

    there’s nowhere near enough space for 1 at the bottom of Coton St

  8. Ooft, improvements?
    The “wan wiy” system springs tae mind as wan oh the “improvements”…not! Best things since sliced bread they said! Aye, right!

  9. Of course local residents were NOT consulted about this. What is this going to solve? Its just going to create more problems

    1. Can you not read??? Or even clicked and read the article? That’s the whole point of the story, because the council are asking on your opinion.

  10. There’s hardly a passenger on the buses what a load of rubbish ,back hander for someone with our money.

  11. ‘Organisations consulted’ So would that be the bus companies (oh yes please) and the Net Zero team (yes please).
    If you want to make Paisley attractive to businesses and customers make all parking free – everywhere ! Why would people pay to park near the town when Braehead, Silverburn, The Fort etc are all free? You will cut emissions because cars are travelling less distance. Absolutely deluded if you think improving buses will stop drivers using their cars.
    I’d throw in a bloody free valet service too !!

  12. and another thing..just get rid of Mcgills…they are awful and ruined the transport network since they came in

  13. Putting in unnecessary bus lanes and cutting traffic lanes will only do one thing – create more traffic congestion!

  14. Another person in the council sitting thinking up ideas to try to justify their job.
    Use money to repair roads up to a high standard.
    Bus routes have been drastically cut, so just plain stupid to give them priority and cause mayhem for other road users.

  15. A beautiful town sacrificed for braehead. Doesn’t matter what the clowncil do, this great town will only be a shadow of its former self. To late.

  16. ‘Organisations consulted’ So would that be the bus companies (oh yes please) and the Net Zero team (yes please).
    If you want to make Paisley attractive to businesses and customers make all parking free – everywhere ! Why would people pay to park near the town when Braehead, Silverburn, The Fort etc are all free? You will cut emissions because cars are travelling less distance. Absolutely deluded if you think improving buses will stop drivers using their cars.
    I’d throw in a bloody free valet service too !!

  17. Just fix the road’s we use and stop wasting money things that don’t need changing

  18. Not what is required. Every change in the roads over the past 5 years has created more problems than its solved. If it ain’t broke don’t try fix it.

  19. Why fix what’s not broken, concentrate on reviving Paisleys town , drop the rents on premises & encourage shops to come back!!!

  20. Renfrewshire Council you cannot be serious, you need to review this again before implimenting. Buses barely use the bus lane that was put in already nevermind introducing another that will barely be used. Reopen the roads through paisley town centre and make that your bus routes and public transport more useable for the public given the plan is to knock down the paisley centre

  21. While they are at it, they should give some intelligent thought to the junctions at Gallow Green Rd Broomlands St. That is shambolic traffic management.

  22. Just what we need, another one way system, and more pedestrianisation for footfall on a town where hardly anyone visits for shopping! Get your act together Renfrewshire Council

  23. When is the government gonna learn that using other people’s hard earned money to make things worse does not improve anything.

  24. Welcome to more traffic jam in paisley . Cycle lane and now bus lane all other road user have no rights just sit in traffic peak hours.

  25. Of course local residents were NOT consulted about this. What is this going to solve? Its just going to create more problems

  26. Why do we need a change just for the buses and taxi’s? Waste of money and will just cause more congestion. Bus route in Gallowhill to be changed just to suit Mcgills that route has been the same for over 30 years but because they ask they get. When are you going to fix the road surface at Weir st etc. Maybe also improve parking facilities in busy areas to stop people parking outside shops near junctions like Glasgow Rd at Mill St for example Reducing the road width on Cotton st a great idea (not) taking away vital car parking for people to get to the council buildings. This idea is deffinately someone who does’t live in the town and cant actually see how the traffic system operates.The worst thing that happened in the town was closing the high street all those years ago.

  27. Buses running behind schedule! Which Mcgills schedule will you choose, the website timetable, the bus stop timetable, the app tracking or the illuminated signs at bus stops?

  28. Tbh I think there’s much bigger priorities in regenerating Paisley which is effectively a dead town centre.

  29. Roundabouts in the town near residential areas are not the answer. Will make Kilnside and Seedhill busier and those roads will not cope. Everyone should respond to the council with objections. See the links in the article.

  30. Why do buses get priority they already think they own the roads should the council not be working for the public

  31. Currently Glasgow Rd from Kilnside Rd is effectively one lane with all the illegally parked cars outside the tanning saloon/pizza hut/Genova – so great it will now be two lanes plus the bus lane. Also currently traffic going from Incle St onto Glasgow Rd gets held up by vehicles going onto Mill St, causing tail backs all the way back to Renfrew Rd and onto the one-way system at peak times. Will also be good to get access to the St Mirin statue without being surrounded by traffic. Main issue will be additional traffic on Cotton St. Need to do something with the traffic light sequence at Bridge St as currently only a few get through each cycle. Will also probably lead to people cutting through from Glasgow Rd to Seedhill Rd to avoid going to Cotton St.

  32. I feel that they should be fixing the pot holes in the rd, also pavements too first and foremost!?

  33. I may be wrong. But has the council not just spent a fortune putting in new traffic lights and updating the islands in the middle of the roads with new railings and drop curbs..

  34. Taking away the slip roads at at the junction at Mill St/Glasgow Rd/Gauze St/Incle St will only cause traffic to go through Seedhill and the proposed roundabout there’s nowhere near enough space for 1 at the bottom of Coton St

  35. Ooft, improvements?
    The “wan wiy” system springs tae mind as wan oh the “improvements”…not! Best things since sliced bread they said! Aye, right!

  36. Nothing wrong with the junction, it was only upgraded a few years ago and works fine, we don’t need bus, taxi and cycle lanes.

  37. We’re the wee shops on that junction not removed 20 odd years ago to put around about in then

  38. aaay.lets fk the roads up again.McGills use their own priorities. They constantly go through the red lights at Smithills St going through to Abercorn St.As does the taxis.

  39. There’s hardly a passenger on the buses what a load of rubbish ,back hander for someone with our money.

  40. and another thing..just get rid of Mcgills…they are awful and ruined the transport network since they came in

  41. Putting in unnecessary bus lanes and cutting traffic lanes will only do one thing – create more traffic congestion!

  42. Another person in the council sitting thinking up ideas to try to justify their job.
    Use money to repair roads up to a high standard.
    Bus routes have been drastically cut, so just plain stupid to give them priority and cause mayhem for other road users.

  43. A beautiful town sacrificed for braehead. Doesn’t matter what the clowncil do, this great town will only be a shadow of its former self. To late.

  44. Just fix the road’s we use and stop wasting money things that don’t need changing

  45. Not what is required. Every change in the roads over the past 5 years has created more problems than its solved. If it ain’t broke don’t try fix it.

  46. Why fix what’s not broken, concentrate on reviving Paisleys town , drop the rents on premises & encourage shops to come back!!!

  47. Renfrewshire Council you cannot be serious, you need to review this again before implimenting. Buses barely use the bus lane that was put in already nevermind introducing another that will barely be used. Reopen the roads through paisley town centre and make that your bus routes and public transport more useable for the public given the plan is to knock down the paisley centre

  48. While they are at it, they should give some intelligent thought to the junctions at Gallow Green Rd Broomlands St. That is shambolic traffic management.

  49. Just what we need, another one way system, and more pedestrianisation for footfall on a town where hardly anyone visits for shopping! Get your act together Renfrewshire Council

  50. When is the government gonna learn that using other people’s hard earned money to make things worse does not improve anything.

  51. Buses running behind schedule! Which Mcgills schedule will you choose, the website timetable, the bus stop timetable, the app tracking or the illuminated signs at bus stops?

  52. Tbh I think there’s much bigger priorities in regenerating Paisley which is effectively a dead town centre.

  53. Roundabouts in the town near residential areas are not the answer. Will make Kilnside and Seedhill busier and those roads will not cope. Everyone should respond to the council with objections. See the links in the article.

  54. Why do buses get priority they already think they own the roads should the council not be working for the public

  55. Currently Glasgow Rd from Kilnside Rd is effectively one lane with all the illegally parked cars outside the tanning saloon/pizza hut/Genova – so great it will now be two lanes plus the bus lane. Also currently traffic going from Incle St onto Glasgow Rd gets held up by vehicles going onto Mill St, causing tail backs all the way back to Renfrew Rd and onto the one-way system at peak times. Will also be good to get access to the St Mirin statue without being surrounded by traffic. Main issue will be additional traffic on Cotton St. Need to do something with the traffic light sequence at Bridge St as currently only a few get through each cycle. Will also probably lead to people cutting through from Glasgow Rd to Seedhill Rd to avoid going to Cotton St.

  56. I feel that they should be fixing the pot holes in the rd, also pavements too first and foremost!?

  57. Nothing wrong with the junction, it was only upgraded a few years ago and works fine, we don’t need bus, taxi and cycle lanes.

  58. That just looks like even more congestion and traffic backing up on one way system and Renfrew rd.
    Did anyone actually model existing traffic flow and how these new arrangements would work?

  59. and another thing..just get rid of Mcgills…they are awful and ruined the transport network since they came in

  60. I wonder if the eejit involved in the Dargavel school planning (haha) is the same numpty in the proposed restructure…another disaster in the making.

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