A leading Aberdeen store has pledged financial support for a lawsuit against the local government’s confusing bus gate debacle, as The P&J has disclosed.
Norman Esslemont, boss of the well-known menswear store Esslemonts, is among the numerous supporters of the Common Sense Compromise on Bus Gates, which had been proposed by AGCC and the P&J, but rejected at last week’s Council decision to make them permanent.
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Some have suggested that the frustrated local business community might eventually confront the council in court, citing similar moves against the local authority in Inverness. There, plans to redesign parts of Inverness city centre were overturned by a judge after the Eastgate Centre owners challenged the plans in court.
Norman Esslemont’s family-owned business has existed for over 160 years, originally as part of Esslemont and MacIntosh on Union Street. However, like many others, the business has experienced a significant decline in earnings since the bus gates were implemented.
He told the P&J: “We just don’t get the same amount of customers from Aberdeenshire.
“And I do blame the council for that. I personally think these measures are a misguided concept and a total waste of time.
“Bottom line is that they introduced these measures to transform the city centre, but they end up doing the exact opposite.
“The city centre is ‘open for business’ but we’re going to do our best to make it really difficult for you to come in. What’s the logic in that?”
Mr Esslemont added: “It’s difficult to say what the impact on businesses would be now that the bus gates are here to stay, but in all cases it would be negative.
“We’ve lost many good businesses and if nothing changes, more would just continue exiting the area.”
