Councillors who voted in favour of the partial pedestrianisation of a busy Aberdeen street may have done so to avoid delaying the masterplan project.
First Bus and Stagecoach both objected to proposals to close off Broad Street to all traffic, citing concerns it would hit their business.
And last night, council bosses admitted their objections may have swayed some councillors – amid fears the firms would have challenged the decision and held up the city’s ambitious masterplan.
The masterplan – which has contributed to the council’s £21million spend on expert consultants over the last three years – includes 49 projects, ranging from lighting up key city buildings at night, pedestranising areas of the city centre and sprucing up Union Terrace Gardens.
On Wednesday, the full council backed plans to close off Broad Street to cars, but to allow buses and cyclists through.
Last night, infrastructure committee convener Neil Cooney and finance chief Willie Young both said they thought it was “likely” the bus companies would have challenged the full pedestrian proposals – holding back the masterplan.
Stressing it would encourage more people to use public transport, Mr Cooney said: “I’m quite convinced the bus companies would have taken us to a tribunal on that one, and that would have set the whole process of city centre regeneration back another six months more.
“You have to take the bus companies with you as much as possible, and so far they’re OK with us.
“And encouraging people to take the bus is important, as we’re really trying to cut down traffic volume over the next decade, and that can be achieved.
“The overwhelming public support was for greater safety in the city centre, greater mobility and they wanted public transport, so we’ve done what people have asked us to do.
However Liberal Democrat group was against the part-pedestrianisation, calling for all vehicles to be left off Broad Street to create a “civic square”.
Last night group leader Ian Yuill welcomed the progress on the project, but said: “I don’t think there is such a thing as part-pedestrianisation, there are either vehicles on the road or there aren’t.
“Our principle concern was for the safety of pedestrians but there was also concern about turning that area into a civic space.”
However, the bus companies welcomed the decision last night, which they hope will ease congestion by encouraging residents to use public transport more.
A spokeswoman for Stagecoach North Scotland said: “We appreciate any measures Aberdeen City Council put in place to combat congestion allowing us to maintain our service reliability and give our customers an improved journey experience.
“Research has proven that cities with sustainable transport systems offer reliable journey times and have vibrant economies. Hopefully this will encourage others to leave their cars at home and use public transport.”
Daniel Laird, commercial manager at First Aberdeen said: “We are please to see the council has reached a decision that will provide benefits to bus passengers in Aberdeen.
“We fully support the objectives of the masterplan, encouraging sustainable travel and reducing car dependency in the city centre.
“The decision to prioritise access to Broad Street for public transport sends a positive message that bus services can help deliver these objectives.
“We look forward to working with out local authority partners to maximise the effectiveness of this decision.”
Detailed designs on part pedestrianisation will now be prepared for statutory consultation.
City centre community council chairman Dustin MacDonald said he saw the arguments for an “all or nothing” approach to pedestrianisation.
He said: “I personally would like to see no vehicles at all on the street and understand why people say it should be all or nothing.
“We will wait and see what designs the council come back with.”
But deputy council leader Marie Boulton welcomed the progress saying: “The masterplan promises to transform Aberdeen over the next 25 years but it’s also critical that we maintain and improve access for all modes of transport and ensure people can move freely within the city centre.
“Through listening to the people we’ve got the vision right, and by continuing to work together we are turning it into a reality.”
Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, added: “It is only by all of us buying into the bigger picture and not arguing over the detail that we will create the momentum that will silence the sceptics and send out the message to investors and entrepreneurs that we are open for business and ready to work with them to deliver the vision.”
Stephen Turner, Muse Developments regional director for Scotland said the decision would help attract businesses to a “key part” of the city centre masterplan.
“The council’s plans to limit Broad Street to buses and bicycles will be a further boost to our ambitions for Marischal Square, and will enhance our objective of creating a space where the people of Aberdeen can use and enjoy the facilities of the development as well as the beauty of Marischal College,” he said.
