Almost 140 business leaders, who live or work in Aberdeen, have today issued an open letter to councillors, expressing their support for pedestrianisation of the central section of Union Street.
The letter comes ahead of Wednesday’s first meeting of the full council since the local elections in May. It echoes calls made by Aberdeen Inspired, the city centre Business Improvement District, which has led a campaign to demonstrate support for pedestrianisation between Bridge Street and Market Street.
The letter states: “Pedestrianisation is key to unlocking a brighter future for Aberdeen's city centre. It will signal positive and progressive change that will ultimately transform the heart and fortunes of our city, which was sadly on a downward trajectory even before the detrimental impact of COVID.
“Removing traffic and creating an attractive oasis will encourage people back into the city and allow the café culture, we have come to enjoy during the pandemic, to flourish.
“In turn, the increase in footfall and dwell time will create a new dynamic that will attract and encourage new enterprises, quality retailers and hospitality operators, reducing the number of vacant units which have blighted Union Street for years.”
138 business people have signed the letter which says pedestrianisation is also key to maximising the benefits of the ambitious City Centre Masterplan and the major redevelopment of the former BHS site and Aberdeen indoor market, which is being seen as a catalyst for regeneration.
“Pedestrianising the section of Union Street from Market Street to Bridge Street is the final piece in the City Centre Masterplan jigsaw that will pull together all the new and planned investments in Union Terrace Gardens, Marischal Square, Marischal College, the Art Gallery and the new Aberdeen market, delivering a new vibrancy that will encourage people to spend more time and money in our city centre,” the letter goes on.
“Furthermore, pedestrianisation will significantly improve air quality in the city centre, dramatically reducing pollution and emissions which will help us achieve our net-zero ambitions.
“Legitimate concerns about accessibility can and must be addressed. These barriers have been successfully overcome in every other major city in the UK. It is not beyond us as a city to develop solutions and mitigation measures to facilitate progress towards the pedestrianisation of 300 metres of Union Street.”
Almost 8,000 citizens, who participated in an Aberdeen City Council consultation on the City Centre Masterplan, placed pedestrianisation of Union Street as a top priority and the signatories say they must not be ignored.
The letter says: “As a collective of over 100 business people, representing a cross-section of organisations with the interests of Aberdeen very much at heart, we urge you to make the right decision on pedestrianisation at tomorrow’s Council meeting.
“We cannot afford to miss this opportunity to halt the further decline of Union Street and revitalise our city centre. Without pedestrianisation, we risk losing even more retailers from the city centre and will be severely hampered in our ability to attract new enterprises.”
Business leaders including Martin Gilbert, Bob Keiller, Stewart Milne and James Barrack along with commercial property experts, retailers, bars and hotels have all added their support to the campaign.
As seen on artists’ impressions and computer-generated walk-through videos, supporters believe removing traffic and creating an attractive oasis will encourage people, retailers and other businesses back into the city, increasing footfall and dwell time and creating reasons to visit again and again.
However, earlier this year councillors voted to defer a decision on pedestrianisation and agreed to reopen this part of Union Street to buses, taxis and bicycles.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said it had polled its levy payers – eligible businesses in the BID footprint who pay an annual levy - on the issue of pedestrianisation earlier this year.
“The partial pedestrianisation of Union Street has generated widespread debate but we firmly believe it is the key to a more prosperous future for Aberdeen's city centre,” he said.
“Many of our levy payers agree that proper pedestrianisation of the stretch of Union Street from Bridge Street to Market Street would pave the way for renewed investment, bring businesses back to that part of our main street and encourage the café culture we have enjoyed during the pandemic to grow and prosper.
“This is an opportunity to halt the decline of our city centre that we simply cannot afford to miss.”
Aberdeen Inspired was established to attract, sustain and boost investment in Aberdeen’s city centre for the benefit of its levy payers and all those who live, work, shop and visit there.
In addition to levy payments, which go to support city centre improvements and initiatives, the BID brings in additional funding which that for every £1 of levy collected, at least £2 is invested in the city centre.
The BID footprint covers Union Street and the surrounding streets, including Broad Street, Market Street, Bridge Street, Huntly Street and Holburn Junction.
For more information on Aberdeen Inspired, visit www.aberdeeninspired.com