A transport boss has confirmed that “serious thought” would be required as to whether his firm objects to the pedestrianisation of a busy Aberdeen street.
Debate has surrounded Aberdeen City Council’s plans for Broad Street, part of which has been closed to vehicles for months as part of a £3.2million regeneration scheme.
Andrew Jarvis, the managing director of First Bus in Scotland, is the latest to wade into the discussion.
While making his first visit to the Granite City since his appointment to the top job in April, Mr Jarvis argued it was vital that the road reopened to buses “as soon as possible”.
And he warned that recent calls to ban all traffic along the route in future may not receive the blessing of his company.
Mr Jarvis said: “We are a statutory objector to road closures and we would have to give serious thought if we would object to that.
“I think, based on what the customers want, they like to be picked up on that road and at those stops.
“It is great to have shared space and to have as wide a footway as possible, but we do need to get the buses running so that people spend money in the city.”
At present, a section of Upperkirkgate and part of Broad Street is shut to all vehicles and this has caused complaints from several local businesses.
Councillors previously agreed to leave the revamped street open to bus traffic, pedestrians and cyclists.
However, Tauqueer Malik, depute leader of the city group of councillors, who have been suspended from Scottish Labour, recently claimed the idea of “full pedestrianisation” should be considered by the authority.
The reopening of the road has already been delayed several times, and the council has confirmed it will not be fit for purpose until January next year.
