Town centre improvements, better transport links and a revamp of Cooper Park have been backed as ideas to receive support from Elgin’s £20 million long-term fund. Press and Journal readers have been reacting on social media after we revealed more than 1,000 ideas have been put forward for the cash. The money has been awarded to Elgin as part of a pledge from the previous UK Government to help “struggling” towns.
Suggestions put forward by locals during consultation events included investment in public safety, help to attract businesses to the town centre and action to fill empty properties. And in the last few days, Press and Journal readers have been having their say on social media about where they think the money is needed the most. ‘Open a market in the St Giles Centre’ Several readers had the same idea to try and reenergise the St Giles Centre by opening an indoor market.
The shopping centre has had multiple tenants move out in recent years, leaving behind several empty units. Action to examine alternative uses for the St Giles Centre is among the suggestions put forward to the Elgin Town Board, which will decide where the £20 million will be spent. Both Alison Kennedy and Sheila Mcdonald suggested on social media that the lower floors of the St Giles Centre could become an indoor market.
Jennifer Malcom added: “The Giles Centre is awful now. Empty units and a depressing feel overall. I walked straight back out.
” Natalie Myers has other uses in mind for t.