Place Making: 90 High St

Regional Award Entry for Moray

Place Making

Hard Landscape Improvements to Lane by 90 High Street, Elgin for The Elgin Fund

Regional Award Entry

Improvements to one of the lanes leading off the High Street in the Elgin town centre was proposed by The Elgin Fund (a charity set up in l964 “to preserve and improve the amenity of the city and royal burgh of Elgin”).

The lane before improvement was an uneven mix of packed earth and sets, with various tarmac and concrete repairs. The lane at one time due to its dilapidated condition had attracted drug users and alcoholics such that members of the general public chose not to use this potentially convenient and direct route from South Street to the central pedestrianised area of the town centre.

With the infilling of building openings, over netting of redundant buildings and other improvements carried out by the adjoining building owners the possibility of improving the general amenity of the lane could be afforded by the Elgin Fund. Budgetary constraints meant that the principal surface of the lane was proposed in textured concrete slabs with rounded stones set in cement along the verges accommodating the various downpipes and services fixed to the buildings.

Measured and levels surveys were taken to enable the original sets to be left insitu (for future archaeological reference) with improvements to the surface water drainage and existing foul water drainage manholes being accommodated to ensure a puddle free walk.

Liaison with the adjoining owners was undertaken to ensure suitable cooperation for the works to be carried out.

For a budget of £22,000 another of Elgin’s many High Street lanes has been able to be brought back into pleasurable use by all the public. A route enjoyed by the burghers of Elgin since it was first laid out in the 12th century.

Mon 1st Mar 2010