An SNP councillor has explained her decision to break party ranks over Aberdeen’s controversial bus gates.
Bridge of Don representative Alison Alphonse is the second councillor to refuse to adopt her party’s stance after former group leader Alex Nicoll took a similar position.
Councillor Alphonse abstained while her SNP colleagues voted through plans to make the much-maligned bus gates in the city centre permanent.
Speaking to The Press and Journal, Cllr Alphonse cited constituents’ concerns over the confusing nature of the bus gate set-up as a key factor in her decision not to toe the party line.
She said: “I did the right thing.
“I had a lot of discussions with my constituents. They told me they were getting confused coming into the city centre.”
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce teamed up with local businesses, Aberdeen Inspired, Our Union Street and the P&J to propose a Common Sense Compromise over the bus gates.
But it was ignored as 21 SNP and Lib Dem members outvoted the 15 Tory, Labour and independent members to make the “experimental” changes a lasting fixture.