Aberdeen council chiefs 'ignore public and back Union Terrace square'

SENIOR council executives are trying to keep alive controversial plans to transform Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens into a £140 million civic square, sparking outrage from backers of a rival proposal for a contemporary arts centre on the site.

In a report to next week's crucial meeting of the council, Sue Bruce, the Aberdeen City Council chief executive, and other members of the corporate management team, are urging councillors to give their backing to tycoon Sir Ian Wood's vision to transform the neglected Victorian gardens into a new vibrant heart for the city.

And they are calling for a new Peacock Visual Arts centre to be included in the city square project in what they claim will be a "win-win scenario" for the city.

Peacock already has permission to build a 13.5m arts centre at the Rosemount viaduct end of the gardens.

Lindsay Gordon, the director of Peacock Visual Arts, yesterday accused council executives of encouraging councillors to back a vision for the gardens which had already been rejected by the citizens of Aberdeen.

It was revealed last month that 55 per cent of those who took part in a public consultation voted against the civic square proposals, with only 44 per cent in favour.

The majority said they would prefer to see a formal gardens, with a contemporary arts centre as second choice.

Mr Gordon said: "At first glance we were encouraged by Sue Bruce's comments about a compromise solution, which is something that Peacock has called for consistently . However, on closer inspection it appears that all of Sir Ian's parameters for the City Square remain intact and that the council is being asked to vote in favour of a concept that the people clearly rejected in the public consultation."

He also claimed that Peacock's position appeared to have been completely ignored. In their joint report, Ms Bruce and her senior executives state: "Much has been made of the competition between the two projects.

"It is clear, however, that there is a much bigger prize to be won or lost.

"Strenuous efforts have been made to deliver a proposal whereby both projects can proceed and produce a win-win scenario, and this will continue until all options have been rendered impossible.

"A proposal for a contemporary arts centre is welcome, but it must not be seen as the solution to all the perceived problems of the gardens."

The executives are recommending that councillors approve Sir Ian's offer of 50m towards the project, subject to a series of conditions, including a demand that he and the private sector pay for an international design competition on the proposals to raise Union Terrace Gardens .

Tom Smith, the chairman of ACSEF, the local economic forum, welcomed the report by senior officials.

He said: "It would appear that the council shares the view of ACSEF and its partners that the city can have it all – an iconic arts centre, bigger and better gardens within a major civic space that will provide a focal point for the city while taking account of the existing topography and heritage of the location."