The public has been given two months to deliver its verdict on radical plans to transform the centre of Aberdeen by giving it a £140million new heart.
An eight-week consultation was launched yesterday on Sir Ian Wood’s vision of creating a new civic square by raising Union Terrace Gardens and the Denburn Valley to street level.
The oil services tycoon has pledged £50million of his personal fortune to turn his dream into a reality – but only if the majority of people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire want it.
The people’s verdict will be delivered by phone, by post, text message and through cyberspace in what the scheme’s backers have promised will be the “most comprehensive” consultation yet seen in Aberdeen.
Feedback will be sought at a series of public exhibitions across the city and in Aberdeenshire, through an independent opinion poll, focus groups and leaflets sent out to homes, as well as on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.
Tom Smith, chairman of Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef), said the project would move forward to the next stage if there was a “groundswell of support”.
“We’re keen to hear from as many people as possible,” he said at the official launch of the consultation at the Caledonian Hotel in Union Terrace.
“The City Square Project is Aberdeen’s last, but probably best, chance to get the plaza it deserves. The creation of the city square is essential to safeguard the future prosperity of Aberdeen.
“I think it would be ludicrous, crazy, to let this opportunity slip through our fingers.”
The project has already won the backing of several of the region’s business figures, including Robert Cook, chief executive of the Malmaison and Hotel du Vin group.
Opposition to the development has also been mobilised, including from local and national architects and a campaign group that laid out “Save Me” banners in the snow-covered gardens yesterday and has gathered 4,227 signatures on a petition.
Katie Guthrie, co-founder of the I Love UTG campaign, said: “We wanted to make a bold statement to really hit home the huge cost of following the City Square scheme, which is not only a massive drain on the public purse but the loss of Aberdeen’s historic and unique city-centre gardens.”
Many opponents support Peacock Visual Arts and its plans for a £13million centre in the gardens.
Peacock issued a statement yesterday expressing “huge disappointment” that the consultation did not include an option to support its centre.
The consultation, organised by public relations firm Weber Shandwick, will run until March 5 and will ask people whether they support the vision, what they would like to see in the square and what represents a civic space to them. An exhibition will be held at the Mall Trinity on Thursday between 9am and 8pm, and on Friday from 9am to 6pm. It will be at the Union Square centre on Friday and Saturday, January 29 and 30, from 9am-6pm and then at Inverurie Town Hall on Monday, February 1, from 9am-5pm.
Aberdeen University Students’ Association will host an exhibition at The Hub on Tuesday, February 2, between 9am and 5pm, before it moves to RGU’s Business School the following day.
The final exhibitions will take place at the Bon Accord Centre on Friday and Saturday, February 12 and 13, and at Peterhead Leisure and Community Centre on Saturday, February 27, between 9am and 5pm.
Feedback can also be given by phoning 0800 111 4881, by text message to 60777, starting messages with the word “square”, or on the website www.thecitysquareproject. com. Twitter users can tweet @thecitysquare, while residents on Facebook can go to www.facebook.com/city squareproject.