Plans for a new city centre cycle corridor have been blasted by Aberdeen councillors, with one claiming they “seem thrown together on the back of an envelope”.
Elected members last night accused Aberdeen City Council of keeping communities in the dark and urged bosses to “come clean” over its new Spaces for People proposal.
The planned Hazlehead “active travel corridor” will run from Hazelhead Park to Queens Road through Carden Place and into the city centre via Skene Street.
Hazelhead and Queen’s Cross councillor, Martin Greig called the decision making process over the plans “chaotic, uninformed and inadequately thought out”.
He added: “Nobody in the community has a clue what is going on.
“There has been no information and no reporting back after the public consultation which closed two months ago.
“The ruling coalition conducts council business in a secretive and furtive manner.
“Residents are asking what they are hiding as they have a right to know what is happening to their area.”
Rosemount councillor Bill Cormie said his area will lose 29 “valuable” parking spaces either side of Gilcomstoun School, which he called “important areas for parents dropping off their children at the school”.
He also questioned if the plans would include any change to bus routes outside Aberdeen Grammar School.
Mr Cormie added: “In my opinion, they’ve rushed these plans through too quickly and I hope the council will stand back and take stock of what’s really going on.”
Council transport spokeswoman Sandra Macdonald confirmed plans had “stalled” on the project, as staff focused on recent work at the seafront.
She said: “The beach work has taken longer than officers thought to put in.
“There have been operational issues and there are also issues around funding which are being looked at.
“Obviously it’s not just about designing and implementing these things, we need to be able to monitor, review, tweak and maintain it.”
However, she added that all elected members representing wards along the full length of the proposed scheme were consulted on the proposed measures.
Ms Macdonald continued: “Cyclists will have their own space remote from the live carriageway to help sustain cycling activity which it is hoped we can all agree is good for us.
“It will also give more space for all manner of pedestrians – young families, elderly, disabled, dog walkers – on the footway.
“Officers will continue to monitor and review all of the schemes in place – the city centre, greater George Street area, Rosemount, Torry and the beach – and will take any necessary actions to ensure that a realistic, achievable and sustainable balance is truck between public health, traffic management, public transport, road safety and active travel considerations.”
