Opposition politicians have branded another delay to an Aberdeen building project as “a complete embarrassment” to the city.
They were reacting to the news the multimillion-pound renovation of Aberdeen’s Victorian Music Hall will not be finished until 2018.
In January, Aberdeen Performing Arts, who run the venue, said the works would be completed around November 2017.
But it has emerged a contractor was only appointed in July and the doors will finally open a year later than previously envisaged.
This is the latest in a long line of council projects which have failed to hit their deadline.
The Third Don Crossing suffered numerous delays during construction while the South of the City Academy and Town House roof repairs are also behind schedule.
Yesterday, a public contract was published naming Glasgow firm Kier Construction as the preferred bidder for the £6.72m contract on the A-listed Music Hall.
But opposition councillors have warned the city could be left as a “cultural desert” with both the art gallery and music hall out of action.
SNP finance spokesman Graham Dickson said: “What we are seeing is complete incompetence from this administration that seems to struggle to complete any projects on time or budget.
“It’s a complete embarrassment that another major project has been delayed yet again.”
Liberal Democrat Martin Greig added: “People will be very concerned we are being left without such an important cultural asset for so long.”
But Dominic Fairlie, chair of Aberdeen Civic Society, said: “Obviously, it is a shame there has been a delay, but I think they are doing a pretty good job with the redevelopment.
Finance convener Willie Young said: “We will take no lectures from the SNP on budgets, this is the party that brought £127m of cuts to the city, and spent £80m on Marischal College after saying it would cost £43m.
“This city is being regenerated by this Labour-led administration and, unfortunately, with all the work going on, there can be delays.”
An APA spokeswoman confirmed work would be completed in the spring, but the doors would not open until after the summer.
She said: “The contractors will be finished in early 2018, but it is likely it will reopen to the public in early autumn.
“We can’t wait to open the building back to the city.”
