Aberdeen City Council has issued almost 50,000 fines to motorists caught in the controversial bus gates blamed for sliding city centre footfall.
New figures published by the Press & Journal this morning reveal that fines totalling over £3million have been issued to motorists over the first year of the traffic measure.
Over the same period, footfall data from Springboard shows that more than one million visits have been lost from the city centre, although this figure is disputed by the local authority.
According to the Aberdeen City Council data, 48,768 fines were dished out to people caught breaking the rules between November and the end of June.
The bus gates went live exactly one year ago today, and anyone caught driving through one by the specialist cameras would be sent a warning letter. But after the “grace period” ended in November drivers caught out were hit with £60 fines, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
However, since May 22, the fines increased to £100, reduced to £50 if paid within two weeks. Taking the increase into account, this means at least £3,091,720 worth of fines were sent out over seven months. Even if everyone paid their fine within 14 days, and thus reducing it to £30 or latterly £50, that would still equate to £1,545,860.
Click here to read more in the Press & Journal.
The Common Sense Compromise
More than 11,000 people have backed an alternative set of proposals put forward by the business community - the Common Sense Compromise:
- Keep the Guild Street bus gates, along with restrictions on Schoolhill and Upperkirkgate
- Remove the bus gates at the Adelphi and Market Street, allowing access in both directions through Market Street
- Remove the bus gates on Bridge Street, allowing full access in both directions
- Remove the right turn ban on Union Terrace
- Issue a warning rather than a fine to first offenders
- Use fines to help city centre businesses via transport initiatives
Last month, council leaders opted only to investigate the potential removal of bus gates on Bridge Street in one or both directions, while looking into allowing traffic to turn right from Union Terrace once again.
There was no clear indication given on how long these studies could take, though leaders hope they will be conducted “as soon as possible”.
Meanwhile, the bus gate at The Adelphi on Union Street will be removed - but it will just be lifted on a temporary basis, during the construction of the new Aberdeen Market. And traffic will only be able to turn left at the bottom of Market Street, on to Trinity Quay.