Agenda item

·       Gavin Clark - Aberdeen Cycle Forum - in support of item 9.6

(A)      The Council received a deputation from Mr Gavin Clark on behalf of Aberdeen Cycle Forum, who spoke in connection with the City Centre Streetscape Update report.

Mr Clark advised that Aberdeen Cycle Forum was a campaign group which had been formed in 2003 primarily on the back of cycling fatalities and the need for change. He added that progress had been slow and not a lot had changed with regard to the city’s cycling infrastructure.

Mr Clark noted, however, that sustainable active travel was now front and centre in many transport strategies at national and local level. Sustainable transport hierarchy enshrined in most of those policies was clear that infrastructure should provide for walking and wheeling first and cycling second before the needs of public transport and motorised vehicles; and funding for cycling infrastructure had increased accordingly.

Mr Clark commended the report before the Council and the ambition to create safe segregated cycling on Union Street, which was a significant step in the right direction. He aspired for a cycle route from Westhill to Aberdeen beach and dared to dream. Mr Clark highlighted his experience of cycling in Dundee recently, where there was an eight mile cycle route in place from the city centre - if Dundee could do it surely Aberdeen could too.

Mr Clark acknowledged that the city centre was facing lots of challenges and a cycle path was not a panacea. However, making streets safer and more attractive would encourage people to visit and use them more often. Investment in cycling had a greater and faster payback than most other forms of investment in transport infrastructure - broadly speaking there was £5 benefit for every £1 spent.

Mr Clark noted that former Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman, now Active Travel Commissioner for England, had suggested that active travel can help any crisis and improve outcomes. Whilst there would always be resistance to change, there needed to be change.

In conclusion, Mr Clark referred to the route contained within the report and stated it was not ideal, however it was acceptable as a compromise and whilst he did have some reservations, he looked forward to seeing the designs.

Members asked questions of Mr Clark and thanked him for his deputation.

In accordance with Article 4 of the minute, Councillors Allard and Watson left the meeting for the following item having declared interests.

(B)      The Council then heard from the petitioners associated with the petition on the United Nations Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons/Nuclear Free Local Authorities.

Ms Emma Morrison, Vice Chair of North East Scotland Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, introduced Mr Felix Mensah, Treasurer, and Mr Mike Martin, Media Secretary. Ms Morrison hoped the Council would look favourably on the request for Aberdeen City Council to endorse the United Nations Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and join Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) and take a stand against those weapons whose mere existence threatened the survival of humankind.

Mr Mensah provided background information on the United Nations TPNW which had been agreed in July 2017 and came into force in January 2021. Mr Mensah explained the purpose of the TPNW and acknowledged that it had been a challenge to get nations to be a part of the process. The ICAN Cities Appeal was a grassroots initiative which sought to build local civil and political support for the TPNW with the aim of influencing national governments to sign up to the Treaty. Mr Mensah stated that over 300 cities/local authorities were part of the process globally and asked the Council to consider being part of it. He added that local authorities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament itself were involved.

Mr Martin explained that the NFLA aimed to tackle in practical ways problems posed by civil and military nuclear hazards. The NFLA were keen for local authorities to adopt non-nuclear policies. He added that although there were no nuclear facilities in this area, a nuclear incident anywhere in the UK, or overseas, could have an impact, and emphasised that major nuclear accidents left a long legacy. Mr Martin advised that the NFLA aimed to increase local accountability over national nuclear policy. He highlighted the range of services they offered, which included policy advice, briefings and national and international liaison.

Mr Martin concluded by advising that around 40 Councils in the UK currently supported NFLA work, with 11 local authorities in Scotland. The annual fee for the Council would be £2,690 and individual memberships were available for Councillors as well.

Members asked questions of the petitioners and thanked them for their contribution.