Oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood has launched a scathing attack on Aberdeen City Council over the “golden opportunity” missed when plans to transform Union Terrace Gardens were rejected.
He said local authority leaders showed “virtually no sign” of recognising the economic challenges facing them – and claimed it was “unbelievable” the ambitious project was scrapped.
But he also issued a rallying call to the business community to seize the initiative on improvements to the heart of Aberdeen.
The former Wood Group chief said the north-east must prepare itself for the decline of North Sea oil, predicting there would be problems with “surplus capacity” in hotels, pubs, restaurants, offices and shopping centres “no later” than 2030.
Speaking at an awards dinner this evening, he urged the private sector to unite and set up a new project for the future he termed “Aberdeen 2050”.
He said major offshore firms would not contribute and that neither UK nor Scottish governments would help the oil capital of Europe, which would be expected to “look after itself” in the downturn.
And he turned his fire on the Labour-led coalition administration in Aberdeen, claiming the decision to scrap the £140million City Garden Project (CGP) two years ago would be judged by history as a “lost, golden opportunity to transform the city”.
His comments at the Northern Star Business Awards came just days after the local authority embarked on a consultation on a “masterplan” for the city centre due to be drawn up next year.
The council administration was criticised for offering a “blank canvas” – two years after rejecting the CGP plans for Union Terrace Gardens, which were backed by a pledge from Sir Ian of £50million up front, and an extra £35million for over-run costs.
The offshore industry doyen said: “Aberdeen’s recently completed impressive sports centre and the plans for a very ambitious new exhibition centre are both helpful developments, but there’s little else.
“Our already unattractive city centre continues to deteriorate, and I’m bound to say it’s almost unbelievable that we didn’t go ahead with the Union Terrace Gardens proposals of some two years ago, which had majority support in a referendum.”
Sir Ian added: “The people with the prime interest in our city’s future are the citizens of Aberdeen and its environs and, in particular, the business community, and here I have some hope and optimism.
“We have an extremely enterprising city with a lot of very fine business people, many of you here tonight, who have built up small, medium and large successful businesses. You must be the key to planning the way ahead for our city’s future.
“So here’s my challenge. What we really need now is leadership and initiatives focused on planning Aberdeen’s economy post-oil.”
He suggested a “reconstituted and revitalised” public-private partnership Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef) should spearhead the effort with the wider business community.
Sir Ian added: “You can’t sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to take the initiative and you certainly can’t expect the local authorities, or any government institutions, to take the lead.
“What is required is extraordinary determination, commitment and enterprise to set up a new initiative – let’s call it Aberdeen 2050 – which must put together ambitious, proactive and phased development plans focused on attracting new industries and new activities to maintain our city in the medium term.
“You may say that 2050 is 35 years away, but the beginnings of the impact will be felt in 2030, and that’s only 15 years away.
“So the time for action is now.”
City council leader Jenny Laing said: “Local government certainly plays a strong part in ensuring that Aberdeen is at the forefront of generating a vibrant economy, however local government needs help not only from the private sector but from the Scottish and UK governments.”
Mrs Laing insisted that the CGP was rejected because the economic case “was not made”.
She added: “We agree with Sir Ian that we need to take steps to regenerate the city centre and that is why the council has adopted a more strategic vision rather than the piecemeal approach adopted in years gone by.
“That is why we have commissioned a city centre masterplan and are actively seeking a City Deal from the UK Government.
“Therefore, we would encourage both the public and private sector in the north-east to work in collaboration with the council in order to achieve our common goals.”