Veteran retailer Norman Esslemont has launched a fresh £25,000 fundraising drive to take Aberdeen City Council back to court – in what he says is a final push to dismantle the controversial bus gates scheme that has divided the Granite City.
Writing in the Press & Journal today, the prominent campaigner and local businessman has accused the council of turning large parts of the city centre into a "ghost town" by pressing ahead with the “bus priority” measures, which restrict access to parts of Union Street and Bridge Street for all but buses, taxis, and bikes.
Describing the scheme as a “half-baked traffic experiment”, Mr Esslemont claims the bus gates have choked off trade, punished motorists, and driven footfall to record lows. He is now urging the public to donate towards a final legal appeal, saying: “We’ve come too far to stop now. This is our moment. Let’s take it.”
Backed by leading advocate Alasdair Sutherland of Burness Paull, the legal case has secured a procedural hearing for June, with the full appeal expected to follow in the autumn. Esslemont argues the decision to make the bus gates permanent was “legally flawed on multiple grounds” and believes a court victory could see the scheme torn up – and fines refunded to motorists hit since January 2025.
“We’ve seen internal emails showing the council lobbying bus firms for glowing reviews to justify a decision they had already made. That’s not consultation – that’s spin,” Mr Esslemont said.
He also claims the council advanced the scheme to avoid repaying active travel funding, calling it “financial fear" dressed up as policy and arguing it cannot legally justify the impact on businesses, residents and commuters.
Mr Esslemont, who previously raised £35,000 through a public crowdfunder, said that support had helped commission legal advice and force the council to justify its decisions in court for the first time.
“Now we need one last push,” he said.
The campaign is being pitched as a broader fight for transparency and accountability in local government, with Esslemont claiming that city leaders ignored public concerns and rejected the “Common Sense Compromise” – a community-led alternative to the current traffic layout.
“This is no longer just about bus gates,” he said. “It’s about every small business owner who’s watched their takings collapse. Every pensioner confused by poor signage. Every motorist fined for making a turn they’d made for decades.”
If successful, the legal challenge could see the entire scheme struck down – and open the door to refunds for drivers who received penalties under the current enforcement regime.
Mr Esslemont has urged the public to back the legal fund via its Crowdjustice page, warning that time is running out to reverse the damage to Aberdeen’s city centre.
“This city has heart. It has soul. It deserves better than this,” he said.
“With your help, we can rebuild a city centre that’s fairer, busier, and open to all.”
You can view the crowdfunding page here.