Paisley’s High Street is now open to traffic again for the first time in 18 years – in a bid to inject new life into the town’s evening economy.
As of tonight, cars and taxis are being allowed on to the street between 6.30pm and 6.30am.
Council bosses hope the move will increase night-time activity on the High Street, make it easier for traffic to get through the town centre, and create easier access to pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Environment convener Councillor Eddie Devine was on hand to mark the occasion by driving the first car on the street as the clock on the nearby town hall hit 6.30pm.
The new road laws are a revised version of an existing traffic order allowing access to delivery vehicles overnight.
Access is one-way and only open to cars and taxis travelling via Moss Street, County Place and Gilmour Street then turning right on to the High Street – cars cannot drive on to the High Street from Gauze Street or St Mirren Brae.
New signage has been erected to make sure drivers are aware of the revised rules.
And after completing his short-but-historic drive, Councillor Devine explained the thinking behind the move.
He said: “This will making it easier for traffic to drive through the town centre rather than having to go round it and hopefully create more activity in the evenings
“By allowing traffic at times where the street is currently very quiet, we hope to increase visibility of the town centre and boost the evening economy.
“It gives us the best of both worlds – easy access for pedestrians to the shops during the day, and a shared surface for pedestrians and vehicles by evening.
“What we are not trying to do is turn the clock back to 1997, as the retail environment has changed beyond recognition since then.
“Paisley has the same challenges as all traditional town centres – competition from big out-of-town shopping developments and the rise of internet shopping.
“The way to tackle those challenges is to look at the many things Paisley does have in its favour and use that to sell the town at home and abroad.
“This change to the traffic set-up is a small step as part of a much bigger and package of measures aimed at transforming Paisley town centre.
“That takes in our ambitious regeneration strategy based on using heritage and culture to bring people into the town, which will hopefully create conditions in which retail and other businesses can thrive.
“Included in that is the town’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021, an expansion of our already-successful events programme, a planned multi-million-pound revamp of Paisley Museum and work to help build pride in the town.”