The Beach Boulevard has been the scene of disturbances

The proposed ban on the Beach Boulevard will affect traffic from 2200 GMT and 0600 GMT.

The move follows years of campaigning by residents who say they are plagued by revving engines, blaring horns and loud music.

The proposed closure will go out to public consultation.

The council's decision has been welcomed by Grampian Police.

A spokesman said: "Grampian Police is supportive of any sustainable measure that will help reduce problems of anti-social behaviour in Aberdeen.

"We are committed to listening and working with all sections of our communities.

Dispersal zone

"In this particular case we will continue to work with our partners in educating, diverting and, as has had to be the case, enforcing legislation in order to give some respite to the many people who live, work and travel through the area."

In March, the area became Scotland's first dispersal zone under ministers' new anti-social behaviour laws.

During the pilot, 71 people were formally dispersed by police but residents said that since it came to an end, the anti-social behaviour had got worse.

Business people in the area have said they would suffer if a ban was imposed.

Everyone's going to lose custom Stuart Brown Gym manager

The Beach Consortium, which represents local companies, said the no-go zone would affect trade and they were overwhelmingly against the plan.

Nick Gauntlet, of the Patio Hotel, where �3m has been spent recently on an extension, warned: "A lot of people have supported the airport with the extension of the opening hours.

"Now flights come in later and people arrive later. We've just employed another 40 people.

"Business is buoyant and that's because we're easy to get to, but we're not going to be easy to get to if they close the top of the boulevard."

Gym manager Stuart Brown said: "You have not just got the fitness centre here. You've got Asda, you've got various businesses in the centre and you've also got the amusement park across the road.

"They're going to be affected if the place closes down at that time of night. Everyone's going to lose custom."

In the end, we're just all going to move somewhere else 'Bouley Boy'

The quarter-of-a-mile dual carriageway links the beach to the city centre.

It will be closed at night but will stay open for residents and the emergency services.

First Minister Jack McConnell met the so-called "Bouley Bashers" and residents on a visit when the dispersal zone was introduced earlier this year.

The Boulevard is popular with young drivers - known as the Bouley Boys - who did not think much of the move.

Complaints cut

One said: "It would cut off access to a lot of places where people socialise at night, like the cinema and stuff like that."

Another warned: "It's useless, there's no point. In the end, we're just all going to move somewhere else."

The dispersal zone cut complaints by a half, but was only a temporary solution.

Lewis Macdonald: Overnight closure a "sustainable solution"

MSP for Aberdeen Central Lewis Macdonald said: "We had for six months a dispersal order, when the police very effectively dealt with the issue of problem drivers on the boulevard.

"Clearly, that was not going to be a permanent solution and the police were always clear that they wanted a sustainable solution."

He added: "This seems to me to offer that sustainable solution - closure at night in order to protect residents from the anti-social behaviour of a small number of drivers which has continued and which remains a problem for residents."

Referring to the overnight closure, one woman said: "I think it would be a good thing. I don't hear very much of it but I do hear car horns beeping and things.

"It would be a good thing because then you wouldn't hear anything."

Another neighbour said: "It's a very positive move. An awful lot of the measures in the past have not been particularly effective.