Aberdeen retailer Norman Esslemont has exceeded the £50,000 milestone in his crowdfunding effort to legally contest Aberdeen City Council’s contentious bus gate initiative.
He initiated a new fundraising push just last week and claims the swift backing from the community highlights the widespread frustration regarding the traffic limitations in Aberdeen city centre.
Supported by prominent lawyer Alasdair Sutherland from Burness Paull, Mr. Esslemont has secured a procedural hearing in June, with a comprehensive appeal anticipated in the Autumn.
He argues that the council’s choice to make the bus priority measures permanent is “legally flawed on multiple grounds”, while Aberdeen City Council has a contrasting view and intends to defend its position in court.
Mr Esselmont said: “These bus gates have choked off trade, driven footfall to record lows, and punished motorists for simply trying to access their city.
“This isn’t just about roads – it’s about accountability, transparency, and the future of Aberdeen’s heart.”
The campaign previously garnered £35,000 but now needs to reach £69,000 in order to proceed with the legal action, and Mr. Esslemont has called on the public to back the legal fight via its Crowdjustice platform prior to filing the final appeal.
“This city has heart. It has soul. It deserves better than this,” he added.
“Together, we can rebuild a city centre that’s fairer, busier, and open to all.”
You can view the crowdfunding page here.
