Aberdeen shop owner warns of closure ahead of final bus gate vote

Victoria Mutch has spent the last year looking on helplessly as takings at her Aberdeen clothes shop dwindle.

The businesswoman opened Style For Your Shape on Schoolhill in the summer of 2022.

For the first 12 months, the independent, size-inclusive business blossomed – attracting new fans and becoming something of a success.

But about a year later, bus gates were installed across the city centre, with traders reporting plummeting profits as customers wary of being fined stayed away.

Amid rising concerns over the traffic bans, The Press and Journal joined with local business leaders to call for a Common Sense Compromise this summer.

Victoria Mutch backed our calls for compromise on the Aberdeen bus gates. Image: Isaac Buchan/ DC Thomson

However, the pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears, with councillors poised to make all of the Aberdeen bus gates permanent at a meeting on Wednesday, October 2.

Ahead of the crunch talks, Victoria has spoken out about her bruising 12 months and revealed she may be forced to relocate.

And the council’s Labour and Tory groups have agreed to put their differences aside to form a united front at the last-gasp summit.

Victoria Mutch reveals ongoing impact of Aberdeen bus gates

Speaking ahead of the vote, Victoria revealed she has watched sales slump across the past year.

She said: “We’ve seen the continuation of the reduction in sales throughout the summer.

“We’ve had lower levels of sales for a 12-month period now, since the traffic measures were introduced, compared to a growing and vibrant previous 12 months.”

Victoria Mutch during happier times at her Aberdeen shop in 2022. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

The businesswoman explained that pop-up shops in Aberdeenshire and Moray have proved popular – prompting her to consider a move away from Aberdeen city centre.

“The demand and footfall has been high there,” she added.

“It’s making us more inclined to move to these areas from the city if these measures are made permanent.

“Our customers are repeating time and time again they have been put off coming to the city centre as they are confused on where they can go and don’t want to risk a fine.”

The bus gate in Bridge Street in Aberdeen. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

What could happen at the meeting?

It was concerns just like these that formed the backbone of the alternate Common Sense Compromise proposals put forward in June.

But during a meeting in July, councillors voted to “ignore businesses and locals” by keeping them in place.

However, there was one glimmer of hope as they ordered officials to conduct studies on the measures suggested by campaigners.

A bus gate on Market Street. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Those studies have now been completed, with elected members urged to keep the controversial traffic bans for good.

At a make-or-break meeting on Wednesday, it seems likely the SNP and Liberal Democrat councillors running the local authority will vote to make them permanent.

However, their political rivals have struck a deal to battle the plans.

Labour and Conservative opposition councillors are poised to join forces in a rare display of unity at the crunch vote tomorrow.

Plea to avoid ‘political point-scoring’ in bid to save businesses

Conservative councillor Ryan Houghton said: “We have to get this right. It is not good enough to simply look for reasons to do nothing. Aberdeen deserves better.”

There's debate around the threat of Aberdeen City Council losing out on money by axing Aberdeen bus gates. — The Aberdeen’s bus gates have come under fire for more than a year now. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Labour group leader M Tauqeer Malik said: “This is about the opposition coming together to see if the administration can finally see the damage they are doing to business.”

Traders issue ‘anguished plea for help’

Meanwhile, Aberdeen Inspired chief executive Adrian Watson warned that cementing the bus gates would be “a hammer blow to city centre businesses who have already made it clear they are fighting for their survival”.

Emily McDonald, Adrian Warson, Craig Walker, Dominique Dawson, Mary Martin, Robert Keane, Victoria Mutch, John Michie, Rosemary Michie and Russell Borthwick. — Backing the bus gates Common Sense Compromise: Emily McDonald, Adrian Watson, Craig Walker, Dominique Dawson, Mary Martin, Robert Keane, Victoria Mutch, John Michie, Rosemary Michie and Russell Borthwick. Image: Scott Baxter / DC Thomson

What do you think should happen at the meeting? Let us know in our comments section below

He added: “The Common Sense Compromise Campaign was not a protest.

“It was an anguished plea for urgent help from traders who face permanent closure in the wake of falling footfall and the perception Aberdeen is closed for business.

“Council leaders promised to listen to not only those businesses, but also to the 11,700 people who signed the online petition demanding a compromise.”

He asked: “Surely there is a better way forward?

“How many businesses have to fail before the goal of a greener city succeeds?”

Objectors told to ‘talk up city centre’

Asked to comment, SNP council co-leader Christian Allard once again urged those complaining to “talk up the city centre and council investment”.

He added: “This is the way to help increase footfall and to attract investment.

“Union Street is facing similar challenges to the high streets of our cities, so we are investing significantly in the biggest city centre regeneration in 200 years.

“Our investment, to improve the public space on Union Street and create the new market, will help shape our city centre as a destination in the years to come.”

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