A north-east businessman has called for an inquiry into the use of granite at the newly-opened Union Terrace Gardens, claiming that there is little to show for the project’s £28 million price tag.
John Forbes, the boss of one of the longest-established providers of granite stone for building in the north-east, has branded work at the public space “disgraceful”, adding that his company Bon Accord Granite had been ignored when it came to providing new granite for UTG despite been one of two main suppliers in the north-east.
Mr Forbes, who says he was among the first UK suppliers of granite from China in the UK, said he believes the stone used for paving and seating at UTG would have been sourced from either Portugal or China via a supplier – but not a local one.
He said: “As a local company and looking at the materials that have been used both in Union Terrace Gardens and the Broad Street project why would it be the procurement of granite should go to companies outwith Aberdeen?
“This is the Granite city. It has hundreds of years of knowledge in the industry.
“Personally, I have 42 years in the industry – I was in the industry since I was 16.
“I happen to have a company that is called Bon Accord Granite – you can’t get any more Aberdeen than that.”
He said had previously been invited to advise councillor Marie Boulton in her former role as capital programme committee convener on materials specification for the city- but he has not been approached to bid to supply granite for city contracts in recent years.
A significant amount of granite in the refurbished UTG was recycled, which Forbes said was an “excellent strategy”.
The reuse of the granite however descended into farce last year when it emerged that granite from the gardens and other masonry had been mysteriously left in a residential garden last year, without prior approval of council bosses.
Mr Forbes, who set up his business in 1997, estimated that there was new stone used for several parts of the project and that procurement would amount to one of biggest part of the costs of the £28 million project.
“I can suggest one of the biggest costs that whole project must be the granite.
“Things have to be transparent.
“We have to give value for money. I just don’t see it.
“I only wish somebody from the council would be able to sit down and have a real chat about how we are going to go forward and procure granite for the city.”
Lead contractor Balfour Beatty, which was awarded the initial £25.7 million contract to renovate the historic gardens in 2019, is thought to have led on sourcing of building materials. The construction giant declined to comment on the procurement of granite for the project and referred the query to Aberdeen City Council.
Aberdeen City Council has been asked for comment and further information on the procurement of granite for the UTG project and its procurement policies.
Councillor Marie Boulton has been approached for comment.
Mr Forbes comments emerged as hundreds of people voiced their opinions on a social media post criticising the project, claiming it was a “waste of £28 million”.
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