Agenda item

1.       Notes that during the construction of the Aberdeen South Harbour, the original developer Dragados, implemented a procedure whereby HGV traffic accessing and egressing the site were required to follow an agreed route avoiding local housing estates.  HGV contractors faced penalties for non-compliance.

2.       Notes that concerns from local communities regarding HGV traffic using the now open Aberdeen South Harbour continue.  In particular communities in Torry, Cove and Altens and Burnbank Village remain concerned regarding HGV traffic accessing and egressing the harbour using local neighbourhood roads infrastructure.

3.       Notes that the identified access and egress route to the Aberdeen South Harbour will be via Hareness Road and Coast Road and that a new road layout is in the process of being finalised and delivered.

4.       Notes that during the many years developing the proposed access and egress route from Aberdeen South Harbour, now identified as above, local communities have been assured that adequate measures would be included as part of the overall development to restrict HGV traffic from neighbouring residential communities.

5.       Notes the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee comprises 9 members; 3 elected members from Aberdeen City Council, 3 elected members from Aberdeenshire Council and 3 members from private industry.  The 3 Aberdeen City Council members are all drawn from the Council SNP and Lib Dem administration.  Further notes that on 14^th February 2025, a meeting of the Joint Committee agreed prima facie to implement a width restriction on St Fittick’s Road, i.e. “to instruct the Chief Officer - Operations, Aberdeen City Council, to progress all necessary consultations and traffic orders required for the implementation of a width restriction on St Fitticks Road.”   No funding for the new Aberdeen South Harbour route from the existing £25M budget for this work was identified.  The Joint Committee did agree to "instruct the Chief Officer, City Development and Regeneration, Aberdeen City Council, and the Head of Service, Planning and Economy, Aberdeenshire Council, to submit reports to Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Councils respectively seeking approval from each for the virement of £575,000 from the Strategic Transport Appraisal project to the Aberdeen City Region Deal External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour project”.  The minute of the meeting was not available in the public arena for several weeks following the meeting.  No provision was undertaken to restrict access by HGVs to neighbouring communities in particular Burnbank Village and Cove. The report recommended that officers engage in a consultation regarding these measures, despite having prima facie taken the decision as to the width restriction measures. 

6.       Notes St Fittick’s Road is a single lane undivided carriageway and no physical measures will be in place to restrict HGV access above the stated width. Signage is proposed but no enforcement measures such as ANPR Cameras. Further notes similar measures in Golf Road, Aberdeen, are regularly ignored and little or no enforcement action follows.  Further notes a number of weight restrictions exist throughout the Aberdeen City Council area.

7.       Notes that a recent consultation exercise regarding the preferred route for access and egress to Aberdeen South Harbour failed to consult on all available measures to restrict HGV access to local residential communities.

8.       Notes that at the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee meeting of 22 April 2025, Councillor Alex Nicoll, Aberdeen City Council representing the Kincorth, Cove and Altens Ward requested to address the Joint Committee regarding HGV access to Aberdeen South Harbour.  Further notes that this Committee has its own Standing Orders and is not obliged to accept deputations and that the Convener and Vice Convener decided not to accept the request from a local elected member and former Convener of the Joint Committee.

9.       Agrees that decisions regarding road safety concerns by residents of the City of Aberdeen should be first and foremost taken by Aberdeen City Council acting as Roads Authority.  Consultations should be open and transparent and carried out before decisions are made.  Considers such behaviour shows a lack of openness, transparency and accountability.

10.    Notes that the proposed consultation limited to a width restriction for St Fittick’s Road has not yet commenced. Further notes that objections from the local Community Council and local elected members to the proposal have already been expressed.  If objections are received to the consultation, these will be reported to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee.

11.    Instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to consult with the local communities of Cove and Altens, Burnbanks and Torry on all traffic management options that could be utilised to restrict heavy goods vehicular access through these communities via Coast Road reporting the outcome of this consultation to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee.

With reference to article 16 of the minute of Full Council of 2 July 2025, the Committee had before it a Notice of Motion from Councillor Nicoll in the following terms.

That Committee:-

1.       notes that during the construction of the Aberdeen South Harbour, the original developer Dragados, implemented a procedure w hereby HGV traffic accessing and egressing the site were required to follow an agreed route avoiding local housing estates. HGV contractors faced penalties for non-compliance;

2.       notes that concerns from local communities regarding HGV traffic using the now open Aberdeen South Harbour continue. In particular communities in Torry, Cove and Altens and Burnbank Village remain concerned regarding HGV traffic accessing and egressing the harbour using local neighbourhood roads infrastructure;

3.       notes that the identified access and egress route to the Aberdeen South Harbour will be via Hareness Road and Coast Road and that a new road layout is in the process of being finalised and delivered;

4.       notes that during the many years developing the proposed access and egress route from Aberdeen South Harbour, now identified as above, local communities have been assured that adequate measures would be included as part of the overall development to restrict HGV traffic from neighbouring residential communities;      

5.       notes the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee comprises 9 members; 3 elected members from Aberdeen City Council, 3 elected members from Aberdeenshire Council and 3 members from private industry. The 3 Aberdeen City Council members are all drawn from the Council SNP and Lib Dem administration. Further notes that on 14th February 2025, a meeting of the Joint Committee agreed prima facie to implement a width restriction on St Fittick’s Road, i.e. “to instruct the Chief Officer - Operations, Aberdeen City Council, to progress all necessary consultations and traffic orders required for the implementation of a width restriction on St Fitticks Road.” No funding for the new Aberdeen South Harbour route from the existing £25M budget for this work was identified. The Joint Committee did agree to "instruct the Chief Officer, City Development and Regeneration, Aberdeen City Council, and the Head of Service, Planning and Economy, Aberdeenshire Council, to submit reports to Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Councils respectively seeking approval from each for the virement of £575,000 from the Strategic Transport Appraisal project to the Aberdeen City Region Deal External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour project”. The minute of the meeting was not available in the public arena for several weeks following the meeting. No provision was undertaken to restrict access by HGVs to neighbouring communities in particular Burnbank Village and Cove. The report recommended that officers engage in a consultation regarding these measures, despite having prima facie taken the decision as to the width restriction measures;

6.       notes St Fittick’s Road is a single lane undivided carriageway and no physical measures will be in place to restrict HGV access above the stated width. Signage is proposed but no enforcement measures such as ANPR Cameras. Further notes similar measures in Golf Road, Aberdeen, are regularly ignored and little or no enforcement action follows. Further notes a number of weight restrictions exist throughout the Aberdeen City Council area;

7.       notes that a recent consultation exercise regarding the preferred route for access and egress to Aberdeen South Harbour failed to consult on all available measures to restrict HGV access to local residential communities;

8.       notes that at the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee meeting of 22 April 2025, Councillor Alex Nicoll, Aberdeen City Council representing the Kincorth, Cove and Altens Ward requested to address the Joint Committee regarding HGV access to Aberdeen South Harbour. Further notes that this Committee has its own Standing Orders and is not obliged to accept deputations and that the Convener and Vice Convener decided not to accept the request from a local elected member and former Convener of the Joint Committee;

9.       agrees that decisions regarding road safety concerns by residents of the City of Aberdeen should be first and foremost taken by Aberdeen City Council acting as Roads Authority. Consultations should be open and transparent and carried out before decisions are made. Considers such behaviour show s a lack of openness, transparency and accountability;

10.      notes that the proposed consultation limited to a width restriction for St Fittick’s Road has not yet commenced. Further notes that objections from the local Community Council and local elected members to the proposal have already been expressed. If objections are received to the consultation, these will be reported to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee; and

11.      instructs the Chief Officer - Operations to consult with the local communities of Cove and Altens, Burnbanks and Torry on all traffic management options that could be utilised to restrict heavy goods vehicular access through these communities via Coast Road reporting the outcome of this consultation to the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee.

The Convener advised that Councillor Nicoll had agreed to amend the wording of his Notice of Motion and the amended version was circulated to Members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note the decision of the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee at its meeting of 14th February in relation to the Aberdeen South Harbour road;

(ii)       to note that a permanent traffic management solution for local roads cannot be implemented until the opening of the new South Harbour Link Road and that this will be subject to statutory consultation;

(iii)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Operations not to proceed with a statutory consultation in relation to the proposed width restriction at St Fittick’s Road; and

(iv)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Operations to carry out a consultation with community councils, local members, and adjacent communities, including Torry and Cove, on post-project implementation traffic concerns, and potential traffic management solutions, including HGV restrictions, on local roads adjacent to the South Harbour Link Road project, including roads in Torry and Cove, and report the outcome of this consultation as soon as possible, and in any event, prior to March.