A lawyer representing Aberdeen city centre traders has issued a stern warning to Aberdeen City Council over the ongoing bus gates saga, reigniting the controversy surrounding the traffic measures implemented in 2023.
Solicitor Alasdair Sutherland has been hired by the city’s traders led by clothes shop veteran Norman Esslemont, and has written to the local authority to warn it could now be “challengeable in court”.
The Burness Paull planning expert previously led the battle against traffic bans in Inverness, where success forced the local authority to scrap those proposals.
The warning comes amid claims that the entire bus gates system may be “invalid” due to alleged failures by council officials to complete the necessary paperwork from the outset.
This development has sparked renewed debate about the legality of the traffic changes and the thousands of fines issued to drivers since the system’s implementation.
Conservative councillor Rick Brooks, who has been vocal in his opposition to the bus gates, stated: “The whole bus gate scheme is potentially invalid and questions around compensation for unlawful fines will follow.”
The legal challenge centres on the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999, which require certain key documents to be submitted to the Scottish Government before new roads orders are approved.
The failure to follow these regulations could potentially render the entire system void from its inception.
Local businesses, already struggling with the impact of the bus gates on city centre footfall, have expressed support for the legal challenge.
Aberdeen Inspired Chief Executive Adrian Watson commented:
“The fact that businesses feel the need to resort to legal action shows their depth of anger, sense of hopelessness and desperate desire for the council to listen to them over bus gates and the toll they are taking.”
Aberdeen City Council has been approached by the P&J for comment on these latest developments, having previously stated they were “confirming the legal position”, and said they were “unable to comment on any potential legal action”.
The matter will be discussed at an emergency council meeting this Thursday [January 16].
