The council’s red tape nightmare over the right-turn ban on Union Terrace has been branded a “waste of time” as figures reveal the police have never fined a driver since it began.
Using Freedom of Information legislation, The Press and Journal uncovered that not one motorist has been caught out by the contentious traffic measure introduced in July 2023.
The restriction came into place alongside the city’s much-bemoaned bus gates.
Councillors desperate to appease disgruntled citizens voted to lift it in October.
However, they had to scramble to undo that decision in a meeting in December after it emerged that it was not “legally competent” under strict road regulations.
At the same time, they made another vote to keep the ban in place.
It has now emerged that drivers have been free to flout the ban since the day it was launched, with police failing to act on any offenders.
This recent discovery left flabbergasted opposition councillors blasting the “cloud of chaos” surrounding the “complete waste of time” Union Terrace ban.
How many drivers flaunted Union Terrace right turn ban?
Aberdeen City Council has raked in millions from bus gate fines since traffic was banned on stretches on Market Street, Guild Street and Bridge Street in the summer of 2023.
But despite being part of the same roads overhaul, any cash raised from Union Terrace fines would go to the police – if there were any.
The Press and Journal watched motorists coming from Union Terrace onto Rosemount Viaduct this past week, and crunched the numbers to see how many drivers were making the illegal turn.
We found that out of a total of 103 drivers, 12 ignored the restriction by turning right and heading east, during vigils between 10am-11am on Tuesday and from 1pm to 2pm on Thursday.
Even non-exempt council vehicles were seen turning right onto Rosemount Viaduct.
That’s 11% of drivers turning at the junction.
Back in September 2023, we spent 60 minutes watching 30 drivers break the rule.
How do the police monitor Union Terrace right turn?
There are no CCTV cameras monitoring motorists at the Union Terrace junction.
A spokesperson for the police told us that “proactive foot patrols” are carried out in the area, with the hope that the police presence will deter people from breaking the ban.
And the force representative also said it’s possible that “education and warnings” will have been given out rather than slapping motorists with a fine for turning right.
The police spokesperson added: “If any contraventions are witnessed by officers, they will be dealt with accordingly.”
Union Terrace right hand turn ban ‘a waste of time’
Opposition councillors were quick to put the boot in after learning of the figures.
Labour Leader M. Tauqeer Malik told us the revelation was “no surprise” as “what the council proposed would not stand up in court should anybody have been fined”.
The Lower Deeside member added: “It is obvious Police Scotland did the right thing and turned a blind eye to any indiscretions.
“The waste of public money and public confidence in the ban shows that the 2023 order was and is a complete waste of time.”
Tory chief Richard Brooks pointed out that this information wasn’t given to councillors during any of countless bus gate debates over the past year.
What do you think of the Union Terrace right turn ban? Let us know in our comments section below
There is now a legal challenge being spearheaded by veteran retailer Norman Esslemont to remove all of the measures permanently.
The Kincorth, Nigg and Cove councillor said: “Throughout this process, councillors opposing the bus gates have been blind to such information.
“It constantly feels like decisions are railroaded through for the benefit of the bus companies and not the public or the business community.”
Council co-leader Christian Allard told The Press and Journal he couldn’t comment on the matter due to the ongoing bus gates legal challenge.
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