THE Labour-led council coalition in Aberdeen has failed to hold talks with Network Rail over a key element of a new vision for transforming the city centre – five months after it was first tabled.
Opposition members turned their fire on the administration last night, urging it to open discussions as soon as possible and branding the inactivity “disgraceful”.
The fresh row over the way forward for the heart of Aberdeen follows the unveiling of new proposals from architect John Halliday to link the city’s four shopping centres and erect a canopy over Union Street.
The Press and Journal published exclusive first pictures earlier this week of how a city centre of the future could look.
In August, Mr Halliday came up with the idea of relocating the entrance to the city’s train station to Union Bridge and building over the Denburn carriageway and railway line.
The scheme was well received by politicians and the public.
Network Rail, which owns a large area of land in the city centre, has long been considered a pivotal partner in any overhaul, with hopes that a new street-level entrance would draw up to 9,000 shoppers a day on to the main thoroughfare.
But bosses at the company said no talks had taken place yet, and also revealed they had no major spending plans for Aberdeen for at least five years.
It is hoped that the rail operator would make an investment, given the income potential from new shops and office space on land it owns.
Council leader Barney Crockett said in August that talks with Network Rail were “imminent”.
However, a Network Rail spokesman said last night no such talks had taken place.
He added: “We currently have no plans for any major changes at the station.
“Network Rail operates in five-year budgeting cycles and our plans for the period between 2014 and 2019 have already been announced.
“We are always open to discuss third-party proposals to enhance the railway, but any project of this nature would have to be supported by a viable business case, have a funding package and meet a clear need.”
Under Mr Halliday’s proposals, the rail station taxi rank would be located under Union Terrace Gardens, which would be partially raised to provide pedestrian links to Belmont Street.
While the architect, who is based in Carden Place, conceded his latest plans had not been costed, he said he hoped private-sector investment would help limit the risk to the city council and ratepayers.
City finance convener and Labour group secretary Willie Young said the council was “concerned” that it had to move forward on talks with Network Rail.
He also called on Sir Ian Wood to reveal information that had been gathered during talks between the City Garden Trust and Network Rail over a radical redesign of Union Terrace Gardens.
The controversial revamp, which was scrapped in August 2012, would also have involved covering over the Denburn dual carriageway and railway line.
Mr Young said: “We are concerned that we need to move forward with Network Rail.
“I have asked our officers to get in touch with them. They are doing that and an update will be provided to us on February 10.
“Also, if the Wood Family Trust were able to share their information that they got from Network Rail, that would help us immensely. I have asked our officers to contact them as well.”
Last night, an Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said a “date is in the diary” for a meeting between the authority’s director of enterprise, planning and infrastructure and Network Rail Scotland’s development manager.
Sir Ian declined to comment.