The price tag for the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) has soared to a quarter of a billion pounds, a city MSP has claimed.
Kevin Stewart claims the cost of the replacement venue has spiralled £65million from the £185million originally quoted.
The Aberdeen Central SNP MSP voiced his concerns about the cost of the development last night and called on Aberdeen City Council chief executive Angela Scott to reveal the true picture.
He said: “I think it is now time for the council to be open and transparent with the public of Aberdeen about the cost of this development.
“The public needs to be told the true cost and whole lifetime cost of the development.
“People feel they have not been given the information that they, as citizens of Aberdeen, have a right to know.”
Earlier this month SNP councillor David Cameron resigned from the AECC board amid concerns over the affordability of the development, earmarked for a site near Aberdeen University’s Rowett Institute.
At the time, the ward member for Kingswells, Sheddocksley and Summerhill called the scheme a “white elephant” and said he was not convinced the north-east needed a project of that scale.
The main arena of the new venue would house up to 15,000 people standing. The plans also include enhanced conference space and a four-star 200-bedroom hotel.
Last night, finance convener Willie Young, who is also on the AECC board, said he did not have the latest figures for the cost of the scheme, adding that councillors were due to make a decision on the proposal at a council meeting on March 4.
He added: “The leader of the council, councillor Jenny Laing instructed the chief executive to examine in detail the affordability or otherwise of the exhibition centre and the council will be able to examine her report shortly.
“Of course if the SNP Scottish Government stopped favouring Glasgow and gave Aberdeen its fair share of finances and invested in any proposed new exhibition centre then the financial risk to the council would reduce substantially.”