Singer Annie Lennox has entered the row over plans to redevelop Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens – describing Sir Ian Wood’s City Square project as architectural “vandalism”.
Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Futures (Acsef) wants to raise and build over the gardens to create a civic square.
The £140million project has been suggested by the Wood Group chairman.
But the scheme has run into opposition from campaigners who say it would mean destroying the green heart of the city.
The opponents include Peacock Visual Arts, which had full planning permission and was preparing to start work on a contemporary arts centre built into the slope of the gardens.
Now 55-year-old Miss Lennox – who has been an outspoken critic of recent development in the city she left as a teenager – has said Aberdeen needs the Victorian gardens, not more concrete.
She said: “Aberdeen was my home town. I was born there, and lived in the city until I was 17. For me, Union Terrace Gardens was, and still is, the green historical heart of the city.
“Like so many towns and cities all over the country, Aberdeen lost a great deal of its architectural heritage and charm through destruction by bulldozer and concrete.
“I hoped that this kind of ‘vandalism’ had peaked in the 60s and 70s, but for Aberdeen, it seems to be back with vengeance.”
The Eurythmics star added: “I’ve been based in London since 1971, so I guess that kind of counts my voice out – but to the citizens of Aberdeen I would say this.
“Aberdeen is your home town. Are you going to sit back and do nothing while its beautiful historic centre gets ripped out and concreted over? It’s down to you to stop this happening.”
However, Tom Smith, chairman of Acsef, said Ms Lennox’s near 40-year absence from the city made her views somewhat irrelevant.
“Acsef has repeatedly stated that the City Square project aims to create a new civic space and gardens with an iconic arts centre as its centrepiece,” he said.
“It is about elevating the gardens into the sunlight and creating a green and attractive destination using the natural topography for relaxation, play, discovery and enjoyment for all the citizens of Aberdeen and to attract new business, investment and tourists.”
He added: “We will be happy to show Ms Lennox our proposals so she has these facts.
“Ms Lennox has been based in London since 1971 and will not have seen for herself the degradation of our city centre, particularly the woefully under-used gardens.
“Sir Ian is an Aberdonian who lives here and has pledged £50million of his own money towards this civic project to transform our city centre because he is totally committed to ensuring the region’s long-term prosperity.”