Decision details

(i)       to note that officers would investigate whether data was available for Council-run car parks to show if there had been any drop in uptake of parking;

(ii)       to note that officers would provide information to Members outwith the meeting in relation to footfall data from other cities, and the comparison to Aberdeen;

(iii)      to note that officers would contact Police Scotland to ask if there had been an increase in anti-social behaviour in the city centre since last summer and the closure of Union Street to general traffic, and to further note that a report was due to the next meeting of Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on this issue;

(iv)      in relation to the query as to how many people were now travelling into the city centre on public transport, including the number of people going in and out of the bus station, to note that officers would contact Stagecoach and First Group to ask if more detailed data could be provided on this; and

(v)      to agree the recommendations subject to (i) and (ii) below;

(i) in the context of the ongoing construction works on Union Street and around the New Market development, instruct the Chief Officer - Operations to introduce a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) to suspend the Bus Gates on Union Street (westbound only) / Market Street (southbound only), between its junctions with Adelphi and Hadden Street; this allowing all classes of vehicle to turn left from Union Street onto Market Street, thereafter restricting general traffic to a left only turn at the bottom of Market Street onto Trinity Quay (Virginia Street), this to aid continued access and servicing of the businesses on Market Street and Shiprow throughout the remaining period of construction; and (ii) instruct the Chief Officer – Operations to report to this Committee in 18 months’ time on the operation and impact of this city centre traffic management regime and to make any recommendations for modifications he  considers appropriate.

Following the vote, the item was then referred to Council in terms of Standing Order 34.1 (further details will be reflected in the minute)