An ambitious nine-month council scheme to “make Union Street shine again” was officially launched today.
The council will spend more than £1million on sprucing up Aberdeen’s main thoroughfare, including a deep clean and repairs.
The project – dubbed Operation Union Street Rejuvenation – will be led by a “hit squad” of four, who will keep the busy street in top condition.
They will be easy to spot as they carry out their work, as they’ll be wearing special jackets with “transforming our city centre” emblazoned on the back.
Jiri Glamos, Martin McCulloch, Steven Reid and Roy Watson will use new machinery to keep a constant patrol of the Granite Mile, removing chewing gum and other detritus while painting and fixing features that fall into disrepair.
Council officers have also now contacted the owners properties on Union Street appealing to them to support efforts.
The deep clean of Union Street is scheduled to take place next week and will involve a general power wash of all pavements, doorways and street furniture – signs, bollards and benches – as well as the removal of chewing gum.
Council leader Jenny Laing admitted that it was unlikely Union Street would become the “shopping thoroughfare that it once was”, but hoped the efforts would attract more people back to living in the iconic street.
She said: “I think the public made it clear that one of the main things they wanted to see from the masterplan was the rejuvenation of Union Street.
“We have to accept that Union Street won’t be the retail throughfare it once was but we want to bring new types of business and residents into the upper floors of the buildings.”
Deputy council leader Marie Boulton, who is leading the city centre masterplan, said that she hoped the public would also lend their support to the project.
She said: “We want the street back to its best and we hope the public will get onboard and show a bit of civic pride too.
“We can do this but hopefully some members of the public will also think twice before dropping litter.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are delighted to support what the city council are doing which is sure to bring business to the street.”
