The shopping centre in the heart of what could become Aberdeen’s traffic free city centre zone has added its weight to Aberdeen Inspired’s campaign for pedestrianisation.
Trinity Centre believes the city has a huge opportunity to create “generational change” and once again create a vibrant city centre.
The centre is on the stretch of Union Street which had been earmarked for pedestrianisation, between Bridge Street and Market Street.
It has today echoed calls by Aberdeen Inspired, the city centre Business Improvement District (BID), for residents to make their positive views on pedestrianisation known to councillors, saying it is the key to unlocking a brighter future for Aberdeen's city centre.
Linda Stewart, Manager of the Trinity Centre, said: “With some collaborative thinking, Aberdeen could again be a destination for all to the benefit of day and night-time economy.
“Retail, hospitality and leisure are not in the stereotypical normality you would expect to find, there has been blurring of the lines between these sectors into an economy for all.
“Pedestrianisation, though born through necessity at the time of implementation during the pandemic, has presented Aberdeen with an opportunity to make generational change and provide our city with a civic space that it has been deprived of - a space in which city centres up and down the country has thrived with its creation.”
Linda said a pedestrianised area would be an obvious addition to the major work at Union Terrace Gardens, which is nearing completion.
She said: “The formation of the pedestrianised zone is the natural progression from the work at Union Terrace Gardens to allow for the streetscape of Union Street to flourish into a city centre Aberdeen can once again be proud of.
“This will encourage investment back into the city and create a vibrant atmosphere that we can all reap the reward of.
“Providing the legitimate concerns around traffic management and accessibility to the city centre are addressed and the implementation of the works match the vison set out in the masterplan.
“The Trinity Centre would welcome the creation of a permanent pedestrianised area of the central portion of Union Street. Let’s not let the chances for generational change for our city pass us by.”
The central stretch of Union Street has been closed to traffic during the pandemic and it is hoped this will become permanent to further allow the café culture locals and visitors have enjoyed during the pandemic to flourish and encourage businesses back into this section of the city’s main thoroughfare.
However, earlier this year councillors voted to reopen this part of Union Street to buses, taxis and bicycles.
The issue is currently the subject of a public consultation and is expected to be debated at the full meeting of Aberdeen City Council later this month.
Aberdeen Inspired polled its levy payers – eligible businesses in the BID footprint who pay an annual levy - on the issue of pedestrianisation earlier this year.
Business leaders including Stuart McPhee of Siberia on Belmont Street and founder of Aberdeen Hospitality Together, TINTO founder Richard Tinto, Dean Walker and Duncan Wiseman, owners of James Dun’s House and Mr Dun barbershop, and Adam Fairley of Specsavers on Union Street have all added their support to the campaign.
Many levy payers agree that proper pedestrianisation of the 300m stretch of Union Street would pave the way for renewed investment, bring businesses back to that part of the city’s main street and encourage the café culture to grow and prosper.
As seen on artists’ impressions and computer-generated walk-through videos, supporters believe removing traffic and creating an attractive oasis will encourage people, retailers and other businesses back into the city, increasing footfall and dwell time and creating reasons to visit again and again.
Aberdeen Inspired was established to attract, sustain and boost investment in Aberdeen’s city centre for the benefit of its levy payers and all those who live, work, shop and visit there.
In addition to levy payments, which go to support city centre improvements and initiatives, the BID brings in additional funding which that for every £1 of levy collected, at least £2 is invested in the city centre.
The BID footprint covers Union Street and the surrounding streets, including Broad Street, Market Street, Bridge Street, Huntly Street and Holburn Junction.
For more information on Aberdeen Inspired, visit www.aberdeeninspired.com