The team behind Sir Ian Wood’s city square plan warned last night that a lack of public interest could kill the project and cost Aberdeen tens of millions of pounds of private and public-sector funding.
The Wood Group chairman predicted future generations would be “the real losers” if he was forced to walk away from the £140million scheme because of local apathy.
It is understood members of the group steering the proposal on his behalf fear Aberdeen will lose out on both the city square and a rival bid by Peacock Visual Arts for a £13.5milllion arts centre in Union Terrace Gardens – and be left with nothing.
Sir Ian spoke out after the group steering the plan on his behalf revealed fewer than 3% of the city’s population had responded to a two-month consultation, which is due to close at midnight.
Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef) said public participation was so low that there was a danger that Sir Ian would withdraw the £50million he has pledged towards the redevelopment of Union Terrace Gardens and the Denburn Valley – and claimed the collapse of the scheme would cause significant damage to the north-east’s reputation.
Sir Ian said: “I hope a significant number have expressed their views. I would not like to see such a huge opportunity lost by apathy.
“If people don’t want this transformational change, I will accept that with the consolation of being £50million better off. However, if that is what happens, the real losers will be the next generation of citizens of Aberdeen.”
Acsef chairman Tom Smith said: “Sir Ian Wood’s £50million towards a radical transformation of the city centre is conditional on the people of Aberdeen wanting it.”
Mr Smith added: “Support from the Scottish Government and private sector has made this £140million a reality and the damage to our reputation should we reject it would be significant.”
Finance Minister John Swinney said yesterday that the government would consider giving the development tax incremental finance (TIF) zone status, which would allow city leaders to use business rates to underwrite the capital cost of the project.
But the government has said that funding would be dependant on the city square team striking a deal with Peacock Visual Arts, which had secured full planning permission, 75% of its funding and Acsef’s backing for its centre built in the gardens when Sir Ian revealed his plans.
The two sides have been unable to reach a compromise.
Members of Acsef are understood to be worried that a no vote for the city square scheme would not automatically mean the Peacock project could go ahead, because the art group has still to secure the rest of its funding.
The suggestion that the city could be left with nothing was rubbished last night by Peacock campaign director Elly Rothnie. “Our fundraising campaign was ready to launch when Sir Ian made his announcement, after being checked by two independent consultants who judged that we could deliver it on time and on track,” she said.
“I hope that if the public do decide against the city square that the whole city will get behind Peacock’s original proposal.”
Despite the concerns, Weber Shandwick, the company running the consultation into the city square scheme has said participation levels are on course to be among the highest ever in Scotland.
More than 7,500 people had taken part by the end of February – more than the consultation on the Forth crossing, Glasgow Airport rail link or Edinburgh trams.
More than 8,000 have signed a petition calling for the city square scheme to be abandoned and nearly 1,500 have put their names to another in support of it.