Garthdee has been home to RGU since 1956 and the University began expanding the use of its campus in the 1990s. As part of our legal obligations with Aberdeen City Council associated with the development of our campus, the University has significantly improved the amenities on Garthdee Road to reduce the impact of traffic associated with our community over the years.
The University has contributed to the initial development of the Garthdee Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), a number of road infrastructure upgrades, upgrading of pavements, traffic signal development and crossing implementation. The University has also significantly contributed annually to the cost of managing the administration of the Garthdee CPZ, providing more than £300,000 over the last 10 years.
This legal requirement was associated with the development of our campus buildings between 2002 and 2014 and was supplemented by a voluntary agreement between 2014 and 2024. The net effect of these agreements is that RGU has now met the cost of the administration of the Garthdee CPZ during this period.
Universities in Scotland and throughout the UK are facing significant financial challenges. The University has committed to taking some challenging yet necessary actions to respond to these pressures to not only maintain our long-term financial sustainability but also to continue delivering on our wide-ranging strategic commitments to the North East and beyond. Against this background, the continuing voluntary contribution of the University to meet the costs of the administration of the CPZ has to compete with many other savings options.
The University values a strong relationship with the local community and we are committed to continuing to engage with residents on Aberdeen City Council’s future plans for parking options in the community. Senior representatives from the University have been in discussions with Aberdeen City Council and the Garthdee Community Council on this matter.
As a University we have an important role to play in the local community. From student volunteering initiatives to offering free membership of our library and access to our facilities, we want residents to benefit from our campus and our presence in the community. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the local community.