Councillors may have denied campaigners the chance to have their say on controversial closures at a crunch meeting, but the determined locals refuse to be silenced.
On Monday, the 24 members of the SNP and Liberal Democrat administration voted to prevent members of the public speaking in the chambers.
They had spent days preparing speeches as they strive to save six Aberdeen libraries and Bucksburn Swimming Pool, and some took days off work to attend.
They were left devastated when the unpopular budget decisions were cemented during a second vote.
But, undeterred, many turned up at the Town House ahead of a meeting of the finance committee this morning to continue the fight.
And they have been backed by scores of supporters online, who reacted with fury as we revealed the names of the two dozen councillors who opted to impose the gagging order.
Aberdeen pool campaigners: ‘We are still making noise’
Protestors assembled near the entrance to the Town House, banging drums and shouting slogans like “save our libraries”, “save our pool!” and “shame on ACC!”
The volume rose as councillors took their seats in the chamber at 10am.
Kirsty Fraser, who is leading the crusade to save Bucksburn Swimming Pool, said: “We are still making noise.
“We are not going to take that answer from Monday, we are going to keep fighting.
“People have committed their lives to this for the last month.”
As the mum addressed TV cameras, fellow campaigners strung up bunting with messages of defiance between the cherry blossom trees opposite the council chambers.
Passersby filmed the protest on their mobile phones.
I said on Monday that I had no doubt that @SaveAbdnLibs @SaveBucksPool would not go away…after Monday’s setback, they are regrouping already with boisterous and noisy protests at the Town House steps. pic.twitter.com/nLFq8uHpNi
— Ross Grant (@RossGrant12) March 29, 2023
What was social media reaction as we named the 24 councillors?
Shortly after the important meeting got under way at 10am on Monday, councillors voted 24-19 to prevent the campaigners from making speeches about their causes.
The Press and Journal asked the council’s media office for a breakdown of the vote, which finally arrived more than a full day later.
We published names and photographs of the councillors online on Tuesday evening.
On Twitter, Archie Flockhart said: “This is the whole SNP group and the whole Lib Dem group on the council, who are afraid to let their constituents say their piece.”
Jennifer McAdam wrote on the Evening Express’s Facebook page that Bucksburn councillors “just lost a few voters”.
Stewart Anderson said the elected members “did not want anybody to give an honest opinion”.
Councillors branded ‘frighteningly out of touch’
Nancy Wachowich slammed Woodside members for failing to attend a community council meeting about their library being closed.
She said the “state of democracy in Aberdeen” was “shameful”.
Every single one of them should never be allowed to hold office again. Utter disgrace. https://t.co/GjNgruk8MW
— Jordan Jackarino (@JSpagboli) March 29, 2023
Danielle Stark cautioned: “Pay attention to who you’re voting for next…”
Allan Main added: “So out of touch with the general public it’s actually frightening!”
And Ian Smith asked: “So who exactly are these people serving?”
Kirsty delivered the statement she had prepared for Monday’s meeting on Broad Street this morning.Â
This is the speech Aberdeen City Council didn’t want the public to hear:
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