Politicians in Aberdeen will now take centre stage in what has been billed as the most important civic debate in the city for two centuries.
Battle lines were being drawn at Aberdeen Town House last night after Sir Ian Wood challenged councillors to back the city square project or miss out on his £50million investment.
Opposition Labour group spokesman Willie Young warned the businessman the people of Aberdeen would not be “bullied” into accepting his plan for Union Terrace Gardens.
But council leader John Stewart hit out at Mr Young’s comments, saying the decision was too important for the city to descend into a party political row.
And deputy leader Kevin Stewart said a debate and strategy were needed to map out the future of the entire city centre – not just the Denburn valley.
The heated response to the publication of the results of the consultation into the city square project is the latest stage in what has become a polarised and bitter debate.
Councillors appear to have been given the final say on whether or not the project goes forward, but the indications last night were that they are as divided as the public.
Mr Young said: “If Sir Ian Wood wants to continue with his project he needs to start listening to the people of Aberdeen and stop lecturing them.
“It is obvious they have said no. People are not going to be bullied by him or anyone else.”
The local authority’s ruling Liberal Democrat-SNP administration said it did not intend to take a firm stance on the issue. Instead both parties agreed to leave the decision up to individual councillors when a vote is held on May 19.
A number of Lib Dem councillors are believed to oppose the plans for the city square, as well as some SNP members.
Lib Dem group leader Councillor John Stewart said: “I am quite clear that this is a hugely important decision for Aberdeen’s future and party politics should not come into this at all.
“All I am concerned about is people taking this decision for the right reasons – and that is for the long-term future of Aberdeen.”
SNP group leader Councillor Kevin Stewart said: “This debate is as important as the debate we had a couple of hundred years ago over plans for Union Street.
“We can no longer deal with the city centre in terms of a piecemeal solution.
“In the past this city has failed to come up with a proper strategy for the economic and social heart and we have got to get that right now.”