Plans to close off a busy city centre street to all traffic, except buses and cyclists, have hit the buffers after a heated debate between Aberdeen City councillors.
Members were asked yesterday to approve a recommendation to turn Broad Street, between Upperkirkgate and Queen Street, into a bus and cyclist route.
It was one of the first decisions for the local authority to consider as part of the City Centre Masterplan project to transform Aberdeen.
The ruling administration also recommended that Muse, the developers of the controversial Marischal Square project would devise designs for Broad Street if the change was approved.
But although council leader, Jenny Laing, appealed to councillors to push on with the project, there was acrimony as political opponents clashed at the full council meeting yesterday with only Labour members in favour of the report’s recommendations.
Liberal Democrat, Conservative, SNP and Idependent councillors backed an amendment instead, winning the vote 25 to 17.
As part of the amendment it was agreed to revoke the temporary traffic order stopping traffic on Broad Street and also to remove the temporary traffic order from Virginia Street entering Guild Street.
Councillors also backed plans to instruct officers to speak with Muse with a view to developing detailed designs for the layout of Broad Street – for three options of full vehicle access, public transport and cycle access only, and full pedestrianisation.
The amendment further declared that all predestination options must go out for public consultation before any final decision was taken.
Independent councillor, Marie Boulton, said approving the amendment was “not dithering”, but rather “being responsible” by having more information.
Mrs Laing said a 107-page report had been placed before members and questioned how much more information they needed to make up their minds.
She added: “We will be here until 2026 or 2036 before we get a decision. Everybody will have packed up and gone home.”
Conservative councillor Ross Thomson said afterwards that Muse no longer needed the traffic restriction after finishing pavement work.
There had also been a unanimous decision two years ago not to proceed with the road closure from Virginia Street, he said and felt the temporary road closure had been underhand.
The traffic orders will come to an end at midnight tonight.