The teams behind conflicting plans for Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens are expected to attend a joint public meeting later this month.
As the debate goes on between supporters of Sir Ian Wood’s £140million proposal to create a civic square and those who back a rival bid by Peacock Visual Arts, local Labour politicians have called for a “reasoned and considered” look into the Victorian park’s future.
Peacock, which had full planning permission and 75% funding, was preparing to start work on a contemporary arts centre built into the slope of the gardens when the Wood Group chairman announced his plans for a five-acre city square connecting Union Street, Union Terrace, Schoolhill and Belmont Street.
The tycoon has offered £50million of his own fortune for the development, which would involve covering over the gardens and the neighbouring railway line and Denburn dual-carriageway.
Residents are currently being asked for their views on it in a major consultation led by Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef).
Politicians have now invited representatives of the two bids, along with nearby residents, a town planning expert, councillors and members of architecture, heritage and civil amenity groups to a meeting at Aberdeen Citadel, in Castle Street, on February 18 at 6.30pm.
Aberdeen North MP Frank Doran, who is planning the event with Aberdeen South MP Anne Begg, Aberdeen Central MSP Lewis Macdonald and north-east Scotland MSP Richard Baker, said the debate had become “polarised and far too narrow”.
He hopes representatives from both groups will give presentations and form a panel with independent architects and planners for an open discussion with the audience.
He said: “We are extremely fortunate that we have two good schemes that we can consider, but each of them, or a combination of them, will fundamentally alter our city centre and needs to be fully considered by everyone who has the city’s interests at heart.
“Developments on this scale need to be considered in the context of what the city needs and how these developments would meet that need.
“It is also important that the citizens of Aberdeen are given the opportunity to make a proper analysis of the current proposals.”
Tom Smith, chairman of Acsef, said residents were already being given a voice in the consultation into the proposed project, which has been running in the city since January 11.
He said: “We strongly refute Mr Doran’s claims that city-centre residents have not been given the opportunity to make their views known.
“The awareness of the public consultation is extremely high and people are being given every opportunity to participate.
“It is important that such a meeting as Mr Doran proposes allows local residents the opportunity to get the facts and put forward their views so that we can have a useful meeting which respects all points of view.”
Peacock campaign director Elly Rothnie said: “We welcome this opportunity, as we share Mr Doran’s concerns that this has become a polarised debate.
“We have been very concerned about the lack of information about alternative options in this consultation.
“This is a great opportunity for the people of Aberdeen to hear about the various different options open to the city, as well as asking important opinions on compromise. We at Peacock are very much looking forward to hearing from the people on this occasion.”