Councillors have backed a buses and bicycle based future for a city centre street – despite a surprise motion to ban all vehicles.
Three options were on the table for Broad Street which included full pedestrianisation, opening only to buses and cycles or maintaining the status quo.
It was the third time councillors had been asked to make a recommendation before the proposal is put out to statutory consultation. Each time they voted to seek more opinions before making a final decision.
Concerns have been raised that any measure of pedestrianisation could lead to increased gridlock, particularly if Union Terrace closes again for the Christmas market.
Yesterday, in a rare display of unity, members of the city’s ruling Labour, Conservative and Independent alliance were joined by the SNP in backing option 2.
They instructed officers to begin drafting detailed designs before they are put out for consultation to statutory bodies like the police.
They added that officers should make sure they take into account the winter festival when making their future plans.
The Broad Street proposal is one of four major transport projects contained in the Aberdeen City Centre masterplan, which aims to transform the area during the next 25 years.
It has been described as “the heart of the masterplan” previously with bus companies warning that full closure would impact their businesses.
But there was opposition to the busses and bikes plan yesterday with the Liberal Democrat group making their own call for full pedestrianisation.
The four-member group argued the public consultation was “disappointing” in that it didn’t specifically ask which option the public favoured and that part-pedestrianisation could lead to more accidents on the road.
Liberal Democrat Martin Greig said: “I think it would be welcome for us to have some sort of public square or piazza to relax in without being worried about being mown down by a bus.”
But deputy council leader Marie Boulton pleaded for the group to back the buses and bikes route adding: “I would ask that we don’t create any more barriers to progress in the city.”
SNP leader Stephen Flynn added the group were hopeful of Marischal Square’s success and were happy to back the administration.
The motion was carried by 34 votes to four.