Aberdeen City Council urged to ‘listen to the public’ after bus gates petition surges past 4,000 signatures

A petition to scrap the new bus gates was set up at the beginning of the week and has now reached over 4,000 signatures.

By Lottie Hood

August 18 2023, 6:12 pm

Aberdeen residents are calling for action against the new city bus gates. Image: Philippa Gerrard.

More than 4,300 people have now signed a petition calling for the new priority bus routes in Aberdeen city centre to be scrapped.

As the final works for the new bus gates are being carried out in the city, residents are expressing their growing anger at the plans.

On Monday, a petition to scrap the new bus gates was set up, which has now reached more than 4,300 signatures.

The new bus gate has been installed on Guild Street. Image: Lauren Taylor / DC Thomson

Another two petitions have also been launched, further highlighting the problems the plans could create within the city centre.

Response sends ‘firm message’ to council

The new measures have been widely criticised with MSP Liam Kerr saying the plans have “no clear logic” to them.

The founder of the fastest-growing petition Scrap the New Bus Gates – Keep Aberdeen Accessible, David Laing, said the bus gates would hamper businesses and reduce footfall.

He added it also appears there would be no blue badge exemption in place.

More than 3,000 people signed the petition within the first four days.

Commenting on the progress so far, Mr Laing said the thousands of signatures marked a major milestone.

He said: “The petition has gone from strength to strength, reaching over 3,000 signatures within days.

“Its success sends the council’s leadership a firm message against the new bus gates.

The council’s new map of impending bus gates and other road changes. Image: Aberdeen City Council

“While pressing ahead with unpopular, damaging decisions appears to be common practice for the council administration, I remain hopeful that for once they listen to the public and scrap the new bus gates.

“Failure to remove them would be to the detriment of many businesses and further disadvantage people with disabilities.”

No plans to amend bus gates

Two other petitions were also set up with similar goals in mind.

Last year, Jo Evans launched Stop Aberdeen City Council’s plans for Guild Street Bus Gates and has reached over 400 signatures so far.

Another petition, focused on blue badge holders, has nearly 30 signatures.

No Bus Gates for Blue Badge Holders was set up by Aberdeen University’s Gaudie news editor Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco and urges councillors to let blue badge holders use the bus gates.

Despite the apparent anger towards the new measures, Aberdeen City Council said earlier this week there were no plans at this time to amend them.