Money raised from bus gate fines could be used to fund shopping centre escalator 

Money accumulated from bus gate fines in Aberdeen could be used towards funding the escalator at the Trinity Centre.

Earlier this year, shopping centre bosses unveiled plans to install an escalator linking Guild Street and Union Street, alongside the existing staircase.

It was described as a “game changer” at the time, with numerous complaints made about the steep stairs, which were heavily used by people to go between the Trinity Centre and Union Square/Aberdeen train station.

The plans lodged in April have since been approved, with bosses now raising funds to actually start work.

Aberdeen City Council could step in to help give a cash boost to the project when the councillors meet at next week’s Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee.

A motion put forward by vice convener Miranda Radley would allocate £100,000 to the project, raised from bus gate fines across the city.

Organisations such as Aberdeen Inspired and Our Union Street are also helping towards the overall cost of the project, with the Trinity Centre matching each contribution.

The motion says that the escalators would “remove a significant accessibility barrier within the city centre” and improve connectivity between Union Street and Union Square shopping centre.

It would also improve access for “mobility-impaired people, older people, families with prams and visitors carrying luggage”, who at the moment have to navigate a steep set of stairs or face going round via Bridge Street.

Bosses are also hoping the scheme will help redirect footfall back to Union Street, which has struggled to attract both businesses and customers in recent years.

This is compared to Union Square shopping centre, which is thriving and has attracted a raft of new businesses in the past two years, including Hobbs, Victoria’s Secret, Crew Clothing, and Schuh.

The council committee is due to meet next week, where they will decide whether to approve or deny the motion to give £100,000 to the project.

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