The former leader of Aberdeen City Council has launched an attack on the local authority, branding its city centre traffic measures "incomprehensibly stupid".
Alex Nicoll hit out at traffic measures which, he says, have negatively impacted businesses and consumers alike.
He also hinted there was discontent within the council's SNP and Lib Dem coalition, warning: "Watch this space."
But the local authority hit back, claiming city centre footfall increased in 2024 and occupancy levels also rose.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Nicoll said: “Businesses in Aberdeen are in dire straits and we need to get our act together.
“Restricting access to our city centre is incomprehensibly stupid. We have taken a number of decisions that have been very unpopular with the public and have simply not listened to what they have to say. It has been a shambles and, sadly, things are continuing on a downward spiral.”
He went on: “Union Street is rapidly becoming a ghost town. People used to see it as a glorious silver mile of granite buildings but they are now, very often , seeing it as shabby.
“We need to be telling the world to invest in Aberdeen and its highly skilled, highly educated people. Instead, we’re bogged down in the minutiae of traffic arrangements. It’s unbelievably frustrating.”
And commenting on the council's ruling coalition, Mr Nicoll suggested councillors had privately expressed concerns about the policies being followed by their leaders.
He said: “There is substantial discontent. Watch this space.”
Responding to the attack, a council spokeswoman told The Times: “Independent data from HUQ Signals shows that footfall in Aberdeen city centre grew by 3.6% in 2024, in comparison to 2023, and Aberdeen continues to outperform the Scottish and UK national averages.
“Union Street at the heart of the city centre has seen occupancy levels rise, recently achieving pre-covid levels.”