Spaces for People - including City Centre

No, the measures are temporary and will only be in place to protect the public health and allow for social distancing in busy streets during COVID-19. The grant from the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People fund is ringfenced so the money can only be used to pay for the temporary measures. Similar measures are taking place in cities and towns across Scotland to allow for social distancing. The measures will be in place for as long as the Scottish Government and the NHS want physical distancing to take place. 
 

No, the Council is not paying for these. The cost for the temporary structures is being borne by the bar, café or restaurant.
 

No, that is not true. The permissions for these structures are decided by the Spaces for People Governance Board, which comprises of representatives from NHS Grampian Public Health Service, Police Scotland, NESTRANS, and various Aberdeen City Council staff. Aberdeen Inspired is not represented on the board and does not attend the meetings.

Where lengths of parking have been removed this is to allow safe use of the carriageway by pedestrians whilst walking along a street or queueing for access to businesses/ public transport while adhering to the physically distancing guidance.  The additional space is required because pavements are not wide enough to accommodate the current 2-metre level of physical distancing. 

The Council is currently not considering any refund or reduction in the cost of residential parking permits due to the measures being introduced as part of the COVID 19 recovery process to improve social distancing within the city centre. 

Chapel Street and Denburn car parks are available free of charge to Zone A, C and K permit holders between 6pm and 8pm; accordingly, this provides a parking window from 6pm to 8am in terms of no charge. The same arrangement is applicable to West North St and Virginia when considering Zones F and G. 

Given the time frame, it was not possible to engage in advance of introducing these measures. The Council is undertaking engagement on the measures put in place through direct engagement with businesses and with the help of Aberdeen Inspired and other local business organisations.  Businesses only can make contact via sfpbusiness@aberdeencity.gov.uk. We will continually be reviewing all the measures with feedback from businesses and the public and  we are amending the measures with this feedback to improve any of the interventions.

Where lengths of parking have been removed, this is to allow safe use of the carriageway by pedestrians whilst walking along a street or queueing for access to businesses/ public transport while adhering to the physically distancing guidance.  The additional space is required because pavements are not wide enough to accommodate the current 2-metre level of physical distancing. 
 

Delivery and service vehicles can get access only from 6pm to 10am. The pedestrianised areas will be pedestrianised at all times and all other traffic will not be allowed at any time. 

Feedback either via the online physical distancing measures consultation or use the Sustrans mapping consultation tool.

Drivers, including blue badge holders,can still use Union Street to access the residential areas to the North and South, but the central section between Bridge Street and Market Street will be closed to allow more space for people to physically distance. The other sections of the Union Street will be narrowed to allow the current bus lanes to be used for pedestrians to queue at bus stops and shops.   

The work will require the reallocation of bus lanes on Union Street for queuing and relocation of some bus stops to more appropriate locations. Bus services will continue to use Union Street, but will be redirected to avoid the area between Bridge Street and Market Street, with the re-routing of services around Bridge St, Guild St, Market Street, buses only at the top of Market Street turning right onto Union Street.,   
 

It is expected to keep the majority of the disabled parking bays in the city centre in their current locations, however if there is a need to remove any it is expected that they will be replaced.  
 

Yes, access is being maintained to all of the car parks. Where possible, and in line with Scottish Government guidance, we would encourage people to walk and cycle where they can.  
 

For access purposes residents can still use Union Street but we would encourage you to use any of the alternative routes where possible to provide the maximum space on Union Street for physical distancing.   

All of the measures delivered with the support of the Spaces for People fund must be temporary. As such the first stage will look similar to how the city centre looks during events like the Great North Run or the Tour series, using temporary barriers. We have also added planters and street benches.

Where possible it is intended to introduce segregated cycle lanes but the priority in the city centre is providing space for the most vulnerable users, pedestrians. Queuing for shops and public transport at 2 metre centres takes up considerable amounts of space and without that we cannot reopen the city centre safely.  
 

Where we have seen an increase in cycling demand, we aim will be to provide segregated safe routes where possible and where Sustrans’ funding allows. We will then be engaging with the public to refine those interventions where necessary.  Cyclists are fundamental to active travel and a growing transport group across the city. As such they are a key strand of the bid to the Space for People fund, but in all cases pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable in terms of physical distancing, must be the priority.   
 

Physical distancing measures consultation.

Removing or reducing traffic, while maintaining public transport and allowing people to walk and cycle safely is fundamental to physical distancing. We will be seeking in all instances to reduce the pinch points and clashes between pedestrians, and between pedestrians and all other transport modes.  
 

As lockdown progresses, further changes to the transport network may also be required at local shopping areas to ensure there is enough space for pedestrians to physically distance and to ensure the number of people visiting the centres and the city centre is manageable to protect public health.  

This will be determined by NHS Scotland and Scottish Government guidance.

Given the timeframe it was not possible to engage in advance of introducing these measures. The Council is undertaking engagement on the measures put in place on a map-based consultation and a question-based consultation. Once we have received feedback from the public, businesses etc we are continually reviewing the interventions and making amendments as necessary.