A PENSIONER has donated £10,000 towards an under-threat contemporary arts centre in Aberdeen.
Peacock Visual Arts had its plan to build a new £13million centre in Union Terrace Gardens put on hold, after businessman Sir Ian Wood announced his ambitious scheme to transform the city centre two years ago.
Retired Aberdeen woman Renee-Margaret Slater, who lives in a one-bedroom flat, said she made the donation because she believes in “a green city centre”.
The £150million civic square plan, being put forward by Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future, would see the loss of the gardens in their current state.
The 61-year-old said: “Sir Ian Wood has a nice big park out his back door, but my park is Union Terrace Gardens.
“There is a plan for Peacock that will keep the gardens, but there is no clear plan for what Acsef want to do.
“I’m just an ordinary pensioner and I will not get my money back, that’s how much I believe in it.”
Ms Slater, of Walker Place, Torry, worked as an adult learning resource worker for Aberdeen City Council, before being made redundant following cutbacks at the local authority last year.
She has £25,000 of her redundancy money left, almost half of which is being donated.
A spokeswoman for Peacock said: “We are deeply grateful for this amazing show of support.
“On behalf of all at Peacock and our supporters we’d like to convey our heartfelt gratitude to Renee.”
Councillors will vote on whether to approve the civic square plan this Wednesday.
