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Leave the car at home or face delays this weekend

With only two weekends left before Christmas, Aberdeen city centre is expected to be busier than ever this Saturday and Sunday.

The number of Christmas shoppers in Aberdeen this weekend is likely to be even higher than had been expected this weekend because yesterday’s storm deterred many from late-night-shopping.

The city centre car parks were full by 9.30am last Saturday [3 December] and the council expects to see a similar situation this weekend. Traffic has become increasingly heavier at weekends in the run-up to Christmas, particularly on the Market Street/Virginia Street corridor.

The council is again urging shoppers to make use of the many public transport options available to them including: a new Park and Ride facility at Aberdeenshire Council’s Woodhill House headquarters; a special Sunday Park and Ride service operating between Kingswells and Bridge of Don; a free retro “hopper” bus serving the city centre; and soon-to-be improved rail links.

Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure convener Kate Dean said: “We’ve seen an incredible amount of traffic in the city centre over the last few weekends and increasingly on week nights as the shops have started opening later.

“Most motorists venturing into the city centre are getting caught up in long queues of traffic, particularly around Market Street and Virginia Street.

“Those people who choose to drive into town should expect delays and I would ask them to be patient and obey the rules of the road to avoid making the situation even worse.”

Variable message signs will be posted on the A90 and A944 advising motorists of road conditions in the city and encouraging them to use the Park and Ride services. The inner circle of variable message signs will also be used to alert drivers when car parks are reaching capacity.

The city is served by a comprehensive public transport network and the festive park and ride services will be in operation from this weekend, providing those who use the service with free parking and cheap bus fares.

Sunday Park and Ride services, with promotional fares of £1.50 flat rate return for adults, including two under 16’s free; and £1.00 flat return for children, will be running between Kingswells and Bridge of Don from this weekend until Christmas. First and Stagecoach day tickets will be accepted. Monday to Saturday Park and Ride services continue as normal.

A temporary Park and Ride facility has been introduced at Aberdeenshire Council’s Woodhill House headquarters. Free parking is being provided there and those using the service can take First services 40 and 23, which costs £2 return, Stagecoach service 18 which costs £2 return, or Stagecoach service 40 on Sundays which costs £1.50 return from Westburn Road. All of the tickets include free return travel for two children under 16 if accompanied by an adult.

The Woodhill House facility complements the Sunday Park and Ride service introduced by Aberdeen City Council. The services will run every weekend until Christmas.

Stagecoach Bluebird operates services from throughout the north-east to the bus station at Union Square and the Ellon Park and Ride is an ideal service for those travelling in on the A90 from the north.

First Aberdeen operates regular services across Aberdeen seven days a week.

The busiest shopping time at the weekend is from late morning to early afternoon. Spreading your day over this period, or doing your shopping outwith this time can help reduce traffic build-up and delays.

There are more than 5,000 parking spaces throughout the city centre, all within easy walking distance of the main shopping precinct.

City centre car parks include: Chapel Street, 500 spaces; Denburn, 326 spaces; West North Street, 165 spaces; Gallowgate, 138 spaces; Trinity Centre, 395 spaces; Shiprow, 365 spaces; Bon Accord Centre - Harriet Street, 370 spaces; Bon Accord Centre - Loch Street, 950 spaces; College Street, 656 spaces; Union Square, 1,210 spaces.

Motorists are advised to avoid the Market Street/Virginia Street corridor if possible and those who do not need to travel into the city centre are advised to use alternative routes to cross the city.

Drivers are reminded that they should heed the rules of the road and not stop or park in box junctions or on double yellow lines to avoid causing extra congestion and delays.

Those who are planning onward journeys by rail, ferry, bus or plane should allow extra time to reach their departure point as city roads will be busier than usual.

Further information about public transport services is available online at www.travelinescotland.com

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