Controversial Aberdeen bus gate scheme temporarily eased after emergency meeting

Councillors in Aberdeen have voted to temporarily suspend part of a controversial bus gate scheme in the city to make way for construction traffic.

During a special emergency meeting on Tuesday, members debated on traffic restrictions in Aberdeen which were imposed almost a year ago.

The bus gate restrictions were introduced to reduce the amount of general traffic on Market Street, Guild Street, Union Street and Bridge Street.

At the meeting, councillors voted to lift the Union Street / Adelphi bus gate to allow all classes of vehicle to turn left from Union Street onto Market Street on a temporary basis.

The bus gate restrictions limit are part of an experimental traffic order, and limit where cars can go within the city.

They were introduced to reduce the amount of general traffic in the city centre, the idea being, more people would be encouraged to take buses around the centre, if journeys could be made quicker.

It was also agreed that the feasibility of changes at Bridge Street as well as from Union Terrace onto Rosemount Viaduct will also be “looked into”.

It follows a campaign by business in the city for a common-sense approach to the traffic measures, with a petition signed by more than 10,000.

The experimental bus priority routes were implemented in August last year and Aberdeen City Council said they would “listen and adapt” to the feedback given to the bus gates.

The committee had received hundreds of objections, with local businesses claiming their trade was impacted.

Reacting to the decisions on Tuesday, Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said he was “hugely disappointed the council has refused to listen to traders and businesses’ plea to immediately lift the chokehold of the bus gates on the future of Aberdeen’s city centre”.

He said other than a “minor concession on the Market Street bus gate” the council has “kicked it into the long grass”.

He added: “Traders don’t have the luxury of time to wait for more feasibility studies. They wanted and needed action today – not reports back ‘as soon as possible’. And there is still no mention of looking at the economic impact of the bus gates on businesses.

“The city council has today let down the city traders, put many of them at risk of going under and jeopardised the future of the heart of Aberdeen.

“At the very least these new studies must be expedited as quickly as possible and full and meaningful engagement take place with businesses and business organisations as a matter of urgency.”

Aberdeen City Council said it was engaging with bus operators, business organisations, and other stakeholders to explore options for delivering the City Centre Masterplan.