Fears have been raised that an Aberdeen playing field closed following the discovery of a sinkhole could remain closed permanently.
Hazlehead, Ashley and Queens Cross councillor Martin Greig last night called for the city council to step up efforts to reopen Harlaw playing fields, which closed seven weeks ago.
He revealed that as the weeks go by, local residents are growing increasingly concerned the fields will not reopen – with the land instead being sold to developers for housing.
Mr Greig said the previous Labour administration in 2002 had attempted to zone some of the land for housing as part of a £7million development.
And he claimed constituents were now worried Labour were “up to their old tricks” and that the field was now “looking abandoned” with overgrown weeds and grass.
The field at Harlaw Road was sealed off on May 25 after the sinkhole appeared, causing “irreparable damage”.
The authority’s assets and finance service manager Andrew Jones wrote to councillors warning there was “a risk further holes may appear” as the field used to host a dye factory.
Communities, housing and infrastructure convener Neil Cooney said earlier this month that the local authority were appointing a contractor to carry out more detailed investigations.
But last night Mr Greig said: “The main thing people are telling me is that the field is being neglected and that it looks abandoned, the grass hasn’t been cut and there are now lots of weeds.
“I fought the last unfunded and ill-considered plan for these precious pieces of green space and local people have told me they worry the same could happen again.
“Fields need a good standard of maintenance to keep them usable. They can be damaged irreparably.
“The Labour-Conservative coalition has an appalling record in unwelcome developments.
“The West End is always under considerable pressure and especially from this administration.”
But last night Labour finance chief Willie Young said there were “no plans” for developing the field and that the administration were “committed” to the city’s green spaces.
He added: “This is typical scaremongering from Martin Greig.
“When he was in administration all the Liberals brought was cut, cut, cut. What Labour have done is invest, invest, invest.”
