A plan to extend waiting restrictions along a busy stretch of Kingswood Drive has ignited a fierce local debate, pitting road safety concerns against fears of reduced parking and diminished access to essential services.
Aberdeen City Council, invoking powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, proposes to install double yellow lines on the east side of Kingswood Drive—starting 20 metres south of its junction with Kingswells Avenue and running for roughly 57 metres towards the zebra crossing. The council argues the measure will improve visibility, ease congestion, and enhance pedestrian safety, particularly near Kingswells Primary School, the community centre, Dickies Pharmacy, the Post Office and other nearby businesses.
The scheme, costed at £700.13 to implement with identical five-year maintenance costs, follows a serious collision last year in which a car overturned on the road. Local councillor Steve Delaney, who pressed for action after the incident, insists the change “removes only a small section of parking” and is a “well-balanced” step towards safer streets.
But opposition has been swift and vocal. Business owners and residents warn the loss of parking will inconvenience customers—especially the elderly and less mobile—and risk damaging local trade. Dickies Pharmacy, situated on the affected stretch, has described the proposal as a potential “severe impact” on access to medicines and healthcare.
Concerns are echoed by the Post Office, which shares premises with the pharmacy, and local childcare provider Kidsize, who fear parents may be forced to park further away or resort to stopping illegally, creating fresh hazards.
A petition against the plan, launched by Post Office manager Sandra McBain and pharmacy manager Pamela Maxwell, has attracted more than 300 signatures. It was submitted to the council on 8 August, the closing day of the public consultation.
In response to community feedback, Kingswells Community Council has submitted a formal email to Aberdeen City Council outlining two alternative suggestions: using part of the existing grass verge or converting an unused bus stop into a designated parking bay.
The consultation, which ran from 11 July to 8 August, invited residents to submit written objections, including their name, address and reasons for opposition. Supporting documents, including a detailed map, were made available online.
The council’s Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee will consider the final report on 9 September and decide whether the scheme will proceed. For Kingswells, the outcome could reshape not only traffic flow but also the daily routines of those who live and work along Kingswood Drive.