A council chief has slammed the Scottish Government for ignoring pleas to help pay for a £333 million exhibition centre while considering contributing to a similar project in Glasgow.
The government is reportedly holding funding talks regarding a £150m extension to the Scottish Exhibition Campus (SEC).
If they are successful, city council co-leader Jenny Laing says they would “strengthen the argument” that “Aberdeen is indeed the Scottish Government’s forgotten city”.
Construction is underway on the 12,500-capacity TECA – The Event Complex Aberdeen – near Bucksburn, which will become the replacement for the AECC when it opens next year.
It received around £10m towards this from the Scottish Government via Scottish Enterprise, making up around 3% of the total cost.
Mrs Laing has written to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay demanding an equivalent contribution for Aberdeen if he agrees to fund more than 3% of the Glasgow project.
She said: “Despite this project’s regional and national importance, (TECA) is being funded almost totally by Aberdeen City Council with only £10m grant funding coming from Scottish Enterprise.
“Whilst I relish competition and wish Glasgow well, I am somewhat disappointed that once again Glasgow is likely to be seen as a special case with funding being made available from the Scottish Government while Aberdeen loses out.”
Aberdeen City Council shortchanged by millions on AECC funding
She added: “The Event Complex Aberdeen is very much a regional facility which will serve residents from Aberdeenshire, Moray and Inverness in the north, to Angus and Dundee in the south.
“It is therefore imperative that if the government or its agencies commit to invest in the proposed expansion at the SEC then they must also provide an equivalent financial contribution to Aberdeen.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are supporting the economy of Aberdeen through a range of measures including our commitment of £125m as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal plus an additional £254m for key infrastructure in the North-east.
“We recognise the importance of both the AECC and the SEC and the role they play in attracting visitors and world-class events to Scotland.
“Our partners, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, are in discussions with both venues regarding their future plans.”
Last night the UK Government confirmed that it had not been approached by the SEC for funding, contrary to previous reports.
In response to Mrs Laing’s comments, a Scottish Government spokesman stressed the investment being made in the region.
He said: “We are supporting the economy of Aberdeen through a range of measures including our commitment of £125 million as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal plus an additional £254 million for key infrastructure in the North-east.
“We recognise the importance of both the AECC and the SEC and the role they play in attracting visitors and world-class events to Scotland.
“Our partners, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, are in discussions with both venues regarding their future plans.”
