A bid to potentially increase the number of 20mph zones across Aberdeen has been thrown out by city councillors.
Councillor Ian Yuill (Liberal Democrat) who represents Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee, called on fellow members to look to Edinburgh where around 80% of the city’s streets are 20mph. He said that a similar move could improve safety for pedestrians in the city.
Mr Yuill insisted he did not necessarily want the zones introduced but called for a report on the “feasibility, desirability and implications” of introducing the road safety measure.
But Councillor Neil Cooney (Labour), convener of the communities, housing and infrastructure committee, advised members to reject the motion given the time it would take city officials to carry out the task.
Mr Yuill’s motion was defeated by 17-2.
Last night he said that the decision by the other members had been “short-sighted” and “shameful”.
Mr Yuill said: “The decision by the Labour, SNP and Conservative councillors to refuse to even investigate more widespread use of 20mph speed limits in Aberdeen is short-sighed and plain wrong.
“The suggestion made by Labour that to do so is a waste of staff time is shameful.
“Around 11.8million people in the UK now live in local authority areas which have a default speed limit of 20mph – and another 1.7million people are set to join them.
“Incredibly Aberdeen’s Labour, SNP and Conservative councillors have refused even to consider my request and have turned their back on a move which could have improved both safety and people’s health. Sadly, it shows just how closed their minds are.”
Aberdeen became the first city centre in Scotland to introduce a widespread 20mph zone in 2006. The limit currently applies to Union Street and its side streets, along with part of Ferryhill, the edge of Rosemount and the West End, as well as some streets north of the harbour.
But Mr Cooney said: “It would be a waste of officers’ time to be writing novels all the time on something that would probably have been found to be unfeasible anyway.”