Controversial bus gates in Aberdeen City Centre look set to be implemented permanently after council officers cast aside pleas from 11,000 citizens for a compromise.
A report going before city councillors next week recommends that the temporary order which was used to bring in the traffic measures be made permanent, despite warnings that they place some city centre businesses at risk of collapse.
City planning chief David Dunne has dismissed almost all of the measures put forward in the Common Sense Compromise, and asked councillors to note that 30% of people in the city don't have a car - but makes no such note for the 70% of people who do.
More than 11,000 people have backed an alternative set of proposals put forward by the business community - the Common Sense Compromise.
They were:
- 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
In his report to councillors - which will be considered next Wednesday - Mr Dunne says traffic modelling done by the council shows that the measures can not be further amended without impacting bus times.
He also argues that for those continuing to use a car to access the city centre that "accessibility has remained at similar levels".
He also tells councillors that any measures removed in the short-term will result in driver "confusion and frustration" and place the council at risk of having millions of pounds worth of funding recalled.
The council will, however, explore using fines to help city centre businesses via transport initiatives and one of the recommendations is to reinstate a night bus service from the city centre to key destinations across the city and into Aberdeenshire.
Click here to read the full report.