Months of “scare stories” have been put to bed in Aberdeen – as the city has taken receipt of millions in funding for a new market.
Council chiefs have confirmed the £20 million levelling up grant has been made available for the project.
That’s despite a change in political leadership at the Town House and frequent comings and goings at the Scotland Office.
Redeveloping the former BHS site is hoped to bring crowds back to Union Street.
And planners think the £50 million construction will make the city centre more welcoming to people arriving by bus or train.
Union Street pedestrianisation vote ‘risked’ Aberdeen’s market millions
But the city’s case was made for the UK Government cash on the basis there would be “some pedestrianisation” of the central stretch of Union Street.
Since then, a change of political direction has left those plans in tatters.
Buses and taxis were allowed back on to the Market Street to Bridge Street section in June.
And as recently as July, finance officials warned that the decision “risked” the £20 million.
It followed a warning from then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak on a trip to Aberdeen.
Now Prime Minister, he told The Press and Journal that a “conversation” on the funding would need to be had if pedestrianisation were ditched.
UK Government waved through Aberdeen’s levelling up millions
But it has now been revealed UK ministers had nothing to do with the final sign-off.
The city’s top accountant Jonathan Belford was given the final say on whether Aberdeen had met all the conditions set to earn the multi-million-pound investment.
Council resources director Steve Whyte told councillors: “The first bid for the £20m is secured. We are drawing down as we speak.
“Round one was the first time the grant was made available in the UK.
“As we are going through it we are very much aware it’s new and evolving.
“As part of ongoing conversations with the UK Government, we keep them informed of the key decisions we have made.
“They were quite clear that Mr Belford was allowed to sign that off. It didn’t require anything from the UK Government.”
Labour group leader Sandra Macdonald hailed the “good news” that the cash was “signed, sealed and delivered”.
Aberdeen has hopes for more millions in levelling up cash after ‘brutal’ government turnover
And the UK Government could yet announce another £20 million for Aberdeen this autumn.
The city has submitted a second bid to the levelling-up fund to help pay for the overhaul of the beachfront.
However, the turmoil in Downing Street – with three prime ministers since July – has affected talks.
Last November, SNP group leader Alex Nicoll branded the concerns about the security of the post-Brexit funding boost as a “scare story”.
Now council co-leader, he and Liberal Democrat co-leader Ian Yuill are said to be in “regular contact” with the Scotland Office.
But their talks have been hindered by the frequent Westminster drama.
“Unfortunately there have been reshuffles within the government which has led to changes in the personalities occupying those posts,” Mr Nicoll told councillors.
His co-leader joked that there may be a Yuill and Nicoll curse, such was the ministerial turnover they have been met with.
The Lib Dem added: “We have been really unfortunate with our contact with ministers.
“One was actually sacked whilst he was with us.
“And it was brutal, I felt really sorry for him.
“His replacement met us and within a couple of days had got the chop as well.
“We are looking forward to meeting the next one and hoping he survives a bit longer in post…
“At least until the next general election.”
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