Hundreds of residents yesterday viewed the £1billion proposals to transform Aberdeen city centre
Council chiefs are seeking views on the proposed city-centre masterplan – which has been described as a “once in a generation” chance to breathe new life into the Granite City.
Key aspects of the proposals include partial pedestrianisation of Union Street and a walkway connecting Union Terrace Gardens with Belmont Street, as well as a public square at Castlegate.
Around 1,500 new homes, 25% to be ‘affordable’, could also be built near Queen Street as part of the ambitious plans.
Yesterday the exhibition moved to a vacant unit at The Academy shopping centre where it will remain until Saturday. Around 1,000 people attended a similar event at the weekend.
Opinion among residents viewing the exhibition was mixed with some referring back to the Union Terrace Gardens plan from 2012 and the more recent dispute about the accepted Marischal Square plans.
Deputy council leader Marie Boulton, who is heading regeneration in the city, said the response from the public so far has been “very positive”.
The public have either viewed the plans in person or on-line.
She said: “We have already had more than 2,000 responses which I think shows that people are excited and encouraged by the process.
“We have spoken to the public at each stage and continue to take onboard their suggestions.
“We shouldn’t look back at other projects that have been suggested in the city but look forward to this new plan.”
She was echoed by senior project officer for the city council Louise MacSween.
She said: “People are really excited to come in and look at the plans.
“We’d like as many people as possible to give us their views and that’s what events like this are about.
“We think this is a great vision for the future of the city.”
A steady stream of viewers filed into the Academy yesterday to inspect the plans with concerns raised about the Union Street plan
Jackie Reynold, 49, from Banchory Devenick takes her children to Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen.
She said: “We don’t live on a bus route so I have no idea what I’d do if Union Street was closed off to cars.
“It’s a nice idea but I don’t know if they’re looking at the practicalities – people won’t give up their cars and the city will be even more congested if you shut the main thourghfare for traffic.”