Plans have been unveiled to dig up an area used as a war memorial in the heart of Aberdeen to build an ice rink – less than a month before Remembrance Day.
As part of this year’s winter festival, the city council and Aberdeen Inspired want to instal several fairground rides, German market stalls, and an ice rink in the Union Terrace area.
In previous years the rink has been housed in the central area of Union Terrace Gardens.
Bot over the coming festive season it will instead be sited in a small, closed-off grassy area opposite His Majesty’s Theatre, sometimes known as the “pocket park”.
It is understood that city council workers have already started removing the flower beds from the garden to pave the way for the ice rink’s construction.
Aberdeen Central SNP MSP Kevin Stewart has criticised the move and asked the council if a public consultation was carried out before the plan was approved.
Mr Stewart said: “It’s known as the garden of commemoration, or the pocket park. The week before Remembrance Sunday there are usually a lot of wooden crosses put into this area.
“Beyond that, this area has a hilly bit in the middle where the flower bed actually is, so that it can be displayed out to the street.
“If that is to be levelled, then they would have difficulty in restoring it to its former glory.
“It’s a ridiculous situation. This area is used in remembrance services, obviously that probably won’t be able to happen which I think is absolutely outrageous.”
City council finance convener Willie Young said: “It went through the finance, policy and resources committee unanimously.
“From our point of view we’re working to what Aberdeen Inspired have wanted, and again all of Kevin’s SNP councillors backed this 100%.”
A spokesman for business development and cultural promotion body Aberdeen Inspired said: “Businesses on Union Terrace were informed by Aberdeen Inspired out of courtesy about plans for the ice rink’s location.
“There is not an obligation to carry out a consultation for temporary structures. Public consultations will be ongoing in the run-up to the event and throughout.”