Seven projects have been selected by Aberdeen councillors to improve the city centre after the authority received a government windfall of more than £1.3 million.
And there is still more than £137,000 left after the package of works were approved at yesterday’s city growth meeting.
Plans will now be drawn up for underpass work in Tillydrone worth £90,000 and mini green spaces known as ‘parklets’ for Huntly Street and Castlegate at a cost of £80,000.
Suspended street signs in the style of that at Belmont Street will be used elsewhere at a cost of £400,000, while the boiler at St Nicholas church will be replaced, wheelchair access added and other works carried out at a cost of £390,000.
There will also be lighting installed on Union Bridge, costing £68,502, ‘intellegent’ street lighting costing £125,000 and a green ‘living wall’ on Flourmill lane for £60,000.
Coming as part of Holyrood’s Town Centre fund, a total of £1.35 million was put forward which had to be spent on schemes before the end of the financial year.
Committee convener Douglas Lumsden put forward the list of seven for approval with officers being instructed to find a use for the remaining cash.
But no detailed plans have yet been prepared and the opposition SNP group has moved that more time be given to scrutinise the schemes.
The group also argued that officers should investigate how the cash could be spend on the Castlegate area of the city – which group leader Stephen Flynn argued could be “transformative”.
He added: “What we are proposing isn’t that these things shouldn’t happen but that we should have more detail before we go ahead with them.”
Liberal Democrat Steve Delaney backed some of the schemes but was particularly opposed to the £400,000 price tag of the suspended signs.
Sarah Duncan, of Aberdeen Labour, said that it was a “use it or lose it” situation and that plans had to be progressed to capitalise on the available cash.
The administration’s preferred list was ultimately carried by five votes to four, with committee convener Douglas Lumsden adding: “This administration knows it is doing the right thing in improving our city centre.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of city centre business body Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are delighted that our city council has supported both our proposals, of parklets and suspended signage, to the combined value of some £500,000.”
