ABERDEEN BUS GATES LEGAL CHALLENGE
ABERDEEN BUS GATES LEGAL CHALLENGE
This case is raising funds for its stretch target. Your pledge will be collected within the next 24-48 hours (and it only takes two minutes to pledge!)
Latest: Feb. 15, 2025
Stretch target 30 days extra
Just to clarify, now that we have passed our initial target,there are an extra 30 days to hopefully reach our stretch target of £49k.Good to see continued steady support coming in . So please k…
Read moreAberdeen City Council plan to make the controversial Aberdeen Bus Gates permanent. However, they cannot do so without the Scottish Ministers’ consent. This will give the people of Aberdeen, including city centre business affected by these controversial traffic measures, the opportunity to make their case before an independent Reporter for why the current scheme should not be adopted. Should the Council fail to seek the Ministers’ consent and deprive the people of Aberdeen their right to have a say, we will have no option but to challenge the Council in court.
“I have been a local businessman for 60 years and have never witnessed a Council so out of touch with the public (their voters). Bus gates are destroying the city centre and need to be scrapped." Norman Esslemont, Local Retailer
“As a result of misguided and unresearched planning, many folk are no longer coming to the city centre due to the uncertainty of how to undertake a visit without being fined.“ Rosemary Michie, Charles Michies Pharmacy & Country Ways
”The reckless installation of bus gates has devastated my once thriving business, at the same time alienated the public.“ City Centre Business Owner
---------------------------------------------
Our Goal
Our principal goal is to prevent the Council from making the current Experimental Traffic Regulation Order permanent. Our broader goal is to advocate for a more sensible proposal for regulating traffic in Aberdeen City Centre that supports business and reflects the wishes of the people of Aberdeen. Local businesses have already contributed to a review by leading law firm Burness Paull of the process the Council has undertaken, at a cost of £6,000. They have confirmed that the Council's approach is arguably unlawful. Burness Paull previously succeeded in challenging a similar traffic order that Highland Council proposed for Inverness city centre.
How You Can Help
Now, we need to prepare for the next stage: researching the case against making the bus gates permanent, which may include the instruction of reports on the economic and traffic impact of the proposed measures. To ensure we are able to make our case as strongly as possible, we need to raise £35,000 to cover legal and other professional costs.
Why Your Support Matters
This is not just a fight for local businesses; it’s about ensuring that the city centre remains accessible and welcoming for everyone. We need to send a strong message to the Council that they must listen to the thousands of people in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas who are negatively affected by the bus gates. Together, we can reclaim the city centre we once loved.
Make Your Voice Heard
Please consider donating £10 or more to our crowdfunding campaign and show your support for Aberdeen’s local businesses and community. Every contribution, big or small, will help make a difference.
Thank You for Your Support!
Be a promoter
Your share on Facebook could raise £26 for the case
I'll share on Facebook
Norman Esslemont and a group of concerned local business people
Feb. 15, 2025
Stretch target 30 days extra
Just to clarify, now that we have passed our initial target,there are an extra 30 days to hopefully reach our stretch target of £49k.Good to see continued steady support coming in . So please keep passing the link on to potential supporters
No further news on the legal front ,but know there has been correspondence on the issue of Scottish Government approval,about which I am waiting further information and will make another post as soon as possible.
Norman Esslemont and a group of concerned local business people
Feb. 10, 2025
Thanks & well done
- We have reached our initial target of £35k ,a magnificent effort with 5 days to go
- Hopefully it sends a powerful message to the Council and administrators that we are not to be ignored.Some of you may be wondering why there is now a stretch target of £49,000 . It has always been there, and was a requirement of the Crowdjustice procedure and a sensible one , if a case proceeds to court it can be difficult to budget .We just need to keep steadily building the war chest with your help.Comments with pledges are always welcome Let’s keep the pressure up!
Norman Esslemont and a group of concerned local business people
Feb. 2, 2025
£20k milestone reached...thank you
Thank you so much for your incredible support so far! Thanks to you, we’ve raised over £20,000 of our £35,000 target, and we’re getting closer every day.
But we still need your help to get across the finish line.
As someone who has already shown real commitment to this cause, we’re reaching out to ask if you can help spread the word. Even a small contribution of £5 or more can make a huge difference. If you know someone who might want to support the cause, please share the link below with them:
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/aberdeen-bus-gates-legal-challenge/
Together, we can make this challenge a reality. Thank you again for your continued support and for helping us build momentum toward our goal.
Thank you for standing with us.
Norman
Norman Esslemont and a group of concerned local business people
Jan. 19, 2025
Big thanks to all who’ve helped-Let’s keep this going
Thanks to everyone who’s pitched in so far – you're making a real difference! 🙌 We’re on the right track, however we need to keep the momentum going. There’s still time to help us challenge these bus gates and make Aberdeen’s City Centre accessible for everyone. Every donation counts
Recent contributions