CARS are to be offered better access to Paisley town centre after more than 10 years of campaigning by struggling shop owners.

CARS are to be offered better access to Paisley town centre after more than 10 years of campaigning by struggling shop owners.

Roads surrounding the High Street, which have been limited to buses and taxis for years, will be opened up as part of an action plan to attract more shoppers.

The proposals follow an 11-year battle to reopen the heart of the town to all traffic after key through-routes were turned into one-way roads and bus lanes when the High Street was pedestrianised in 1997.

Studies show that Braehead, with its free parking, has contributed to a 50% sales slump in recent years.

Councillors will now be asked to back a series of traffic orders to open up all of Causeyside Street, St Mirren Street and Gauze Street to drivers.

Council leader Derek Mackay said: "It is time to open Paisley back up to everyday traffic.

"A ring road around the town centre was never going to help businesses struggling to get by.

"I hope we can reverse damage caused by previous administrations."

The move follows a major study which was commissioned by the council's planning and transport department into traffic patterns.

Other measures in the rescue package include introducing a separate bus lane on Old Sneddon Street, near Paisley Gilmour Street Train Station, and the opening up of Smithhills Street to cars in the evening.

The plan, initially an 18 month pilot, will go before Renfrewshire Council's Environment and Infrastructure Board on February 27.

Steve Clark, a member of regeneration group Paisley Vision, said: "This is a bold attempt to open up the town centre to traffic, allowing better access to shops and facilities.

"It is worth trying this under an experimental traffic order, giving us all time to assess the benefits of the proposal."

Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of the Environment and Infrastructure Policy Board, said: "Better car access to the town centre is a key ingredient to addressing Paisley's problems."

Earlier this month, The Evening Times told how three stores in the town centre had shut within days of each other.

More than a dozen prime retail sites now lie empty following the sudden closures of JJB Sports, The Rangers Store and shoe shop Stead & Simpson.