Torry residents have objected to a major development planned for Nigg Bay – claiming there has been no transparency or consultation with people in the area.
The local community council met this week with developers, Barton Willmore, who have promised the £320million project will play a “critical role” in the future of Scotland’s economy.
Plans for the development went on show in Aberdeen earlier this year, with the public urged to have their say on the bold new project.
But at Torry Community Council’s most recent meeting, local residents said officials had failed to keep the people who will be most affected up-to-date.
The development of a second harbour would provide an additional 1,400 metres of quay, a minimum draft of nine metres, a wide entrance and turning circle, and a laydown area of more than 125,000 square metres.
Barton Willmore partner, Stephen Tucker, told the group that the project would inject millions of pounds into the region and create thousands of jobs.
“Aberdeen currently misses out on cruise ships as a result of the size of its harbour. Last year 41 cruise ships entered Lerwick, but only nine came to the Aberdeen,” he said.
“As well as this there could be £383million gross value added to the economy every year, with £11million of this going to Aberdeen City and Shire.”
Betty Lyon, who lives at Tullos Crescent and led the objections at the meeting on Thursday night, said they had heard too much conflicting information about what exactly was happening.
She said: “We were originally told we were getting a marina, then it’s a harbour for cruises, then it’s going to be used for decommissioning.
“This is a huge infrastructure project and it will take up the size of four football pitches.”
Barton Willmore held four public exhibitions in September, two in the Tesco on Wellington Road and two in Union Square.
Fellow Torry resident, Mandy Roy, said there was not enough consultation with residents where she lives.
She said: “The Tesco is barely in Torry and Union Square is not.
“There has not been enough consultation with the people who live here but we will be the ones mostly affected
“A lot of people in Torry’s second language is English and there has been no translation of the plans for them.”
To go ahead, the plan needs three separate sets of permission, firstly from Aberdeen City Council on planning, from Transport Scotland on a Harbour Revision Order and finally a Marine License from Marine Scotland.
A final decision is expected in 2016.