The chairman of the campaign to save St Fittick’s Park said he is “not happy” with revised plans shown to the community in Torry yesterday.
Richard Caie of Friends of St Fittick’s Park also said there was no “substance” to the proposals after a public consultation on the plans for an Energy Transition Zone (ETZ).
Revised blueprints for the project show that two thirds of the park would remain in the community’s hands.
However, the area closest to the £350m south harbour will still be turned into a business park due to its location, with Doonie’s Rare Breeds Farm set to go.
Mr Caie told The Press and Journal: “Once again, they’ve got all the maps that are indicative of what could happen, but nobody’s quite sure what what will happen.”
The not-for-profit ETZ Ltd is made up of experts, such as former Wood Group chief executive Sir Ian Wood, who is chairman of the organisation.
ETZ hopes to create 12,500 jobs
According to ETZ, its aim is to create an integrated energy cluster focussed on delivering net zero in order to support a green economic recovery and deliver jobs for the north-east.
The organisation said the zone will help the renewable and low carbon energy sectors in Aberdeen, which will help to reduce the city’s historic reliance on the oil and gas industry.
ETZ Ltd claims their plans for offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage sites will directly support 2,500 jobs in its first eight years, which will help to create another 10,000 other energy transition roles across the region.
However, Mr Caie disputed these claims, saying: “Promises are very easy to make.
“They’re promising two and a half thousand jobs in St Fittick’s itself, where’s that going to happen?
“There’s absolutely no reason why Tullos and Altens couldn’t do everything here, there’s absolutely plenty of space there.”
Mr Caie also disputed the term ‘just transition’, adding: “It’s not really just, they’re taking away our wonderful green space from 10,000 people.”
Aberdeen City Council will have the final on the local development plan, with any planning applications going through the normal planning process.
‘Listen to all sides, not just the money people’
Discussing what Friends of St Fittick’s Park will do now, Mr Caie said: “We will do our very best to bring many flows in the project to those that are in power. We would hope that those who have the ultimate decision will listen to all sides, not just the money people, they’ve got to listen to the 10,000 people of Torry.”
In a direct message to councillors, he added: “Please listen to the good folk of Torry and remember the principles of a just transition.
“We already have terrible health inequality and life expectancy in Torry and now we’re been faced with green poverty because if they take away the green spaces, that’s just not fair and definitely not a just transition.”
ETZ Ltd chief executive, Maggie McGinlay, said: “We are very grateful to members of the local community for attending the latest public consultation event where the emerging masterplan proposals were presented.
“There was a wide range of constructive feedback throughout the day which we will consider carefully as we move to the next stage of the process.”
Following the announcement of the potential ETZ campus on Tuesday, opponents vowed to continue their fight.
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