Work starting on scheme on Monday to allow people to physically distance while walking and queuing in George Street

10 July 2020

People queuing and walking about in the George Street area of Aberdeen will have more space to physically distance as work is due take place next week on a temporary scheme to change roads and pavements.

The project, which is part of a national strategy to create walking and cycling spaces in towns and cities across Scotland, has been designed following feedback from local councillors, businesses and stakeholders.

Aberdeen City Council was awarded a ringfenced £1.76million grant from the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People fund, and measures taking place in several locations around the city include temporary pedestrianisation, pavement widening, bike lanes, and one-way travel. The measures will support local shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and the local economy as people will be able to queue safely while physically distancing.

The work for the George Street area includes:

George Street from Hutcheon Street to Maberly Street/Spring Garden will remain two-way to all traffic. On-street parking in this section – except the disabled parking bay – will be removed. Displaced parked vehicles will be accommodated by additional parking on Maberly Street, Catherine Street and Gerrard Street; George Street from Maberly Street/Spring Garden and St Andrew Street will become one-way southbound with a north-bound mandatory cycle contraflow lane. The parking bays on the east side will be retained and the existing single yellow lines (timed waiting restrictions) on the west side will become double yellow lines (‘at any time’ waiting prohibition); Cyclists will be exempt from the existing “no entry” signs on George Street at the St Andrew Street southern junction. This is so bike stands within the existing pedestrianised zone can be more easily accessed; Maberly Street will be one-way eastbound from Skene Square to George Street. Between George Street and Charlotte Street there will be a shared pedestrian and westbound cyclists’ lane. Between Charlotte Street and Skene Square there will be a westbound mandatory cycle contraflow lane; On St Andrew Street from George Street to Charlotte Street/Crooked Lane, it will become one-way west-bound with an advisory bus and cycle contraflow lane east-bound: The west-bound bus stop on St Andrew Street between Loch Street and George Street and the north-bound bus stop on George Street between John Street and Craigie Street will be temporarily closed and new stops provided north-bound on Loch Street: The south-bound bus stops on George Street between Hutcheon Street and John Street and the east-bound bus stop on St Andrew Street between George Street and Loch Street will move out further from the existing kerbline; The city centre 20mph speed limit will be extended with new boundaries at the John Street/Skene Square/Denburn Road junction, the Maberly Street/Skene Square junction, the George Street/Hutcheon Street southern junction and the Gallowgate/Mounthooly roundabout junction; More bike stands, seating and greenery will be provided in extended pavements, whilst leaving adequate space for physical distancing.

Aberdeen City Council transport spokesperson Councillor Sandra Macdonald said: “It’s great the works in the George Street are starting as we’ve been working with the George Street Traders’ Association, the local community council, and local councillors on the plans.

“The measures we’re putting in may be modified again as we continue to speak with these groups and local residents, to gauge how the arrangements work when people continue to return to the area for shopping and leisure.

“Many people already walk and cycle in the area, going to the local shops or on their way to the city centre. These interventions will enable pedestrians to physically distance and help prevent the spread of coronavirus, while at the same time support the local economy as lockdown eases.”

George Street Traders’ Association chairman Stuart Milne, who is general manager at Finnies the Jewellers, said: “Whilst all would clearly not welcome the temporary traffic interruption in George Street to facilitate necessary social distancing, I believe we have to consider it necessary to enable businesses to open up once more to get the local economy moving again.

“As general manager of Finnies, I personally have marshalled customers at the door of the shop to enable customers to enter the store safely in accordance with our health and safety risk assessment to ensure our arrangements are safe for both staff and customers.

“On several occasions, I stepped off the pavement into the road to allow the safe passage on the pavement of passers-by, elderly, mothers with prams and disability scooters. I should not be asking staff members to do this when there is risk of being knocked down by a vehicle.

“We have to welcome the initiative with the narrow pavements in George Street and look forward to customers feeling safe in these surroundings to return to visit some of the amazing businesses we enjoy in the George Street area.”

Advance signs highlighting the changes and restrictions are also being put out letting people know about the changes in the area.

Similar works, where traffic is re-routed to free up carriageway space for businesses, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, have already been carried out on Union Street and nearby streets, and in the communities of Torry and Rosemount.

The works being carried out around Aberdeen will help protect public health by reducing COVID-19 transmission in the city which will in turn reduce the number of cases NHS Grampian’s contact tracing team have to cope with, making their intervention easier and more effective. The temporary measures will further help the economic recovery of the city and allow people to continue to use active travel such as walking and cycling.

Aberdeen City Council will continue to review, monitor, and evaluate the interventions while discussions are held with stakeholders, and when the measures are in place. The continual reviewing may mean changes to the interventions, and it is also a requirement of the fund, which is being administered by sustainable transport body Sustrans Scotland.

The length of time the temporary measures will be in place will be determined by NHS and Government guidance for physical distancing.