A campaign to replace one of Aberdeen’s most popular landmarks has received a financial boost of up to £30,000 from the city council.
Statues of Rob Roy have stood guard at the bridge over the Culter Burn since 1850.
During the last 167 years, a number of effigies of the folk hero have been erected and replaced at the site, due to weather damage, vandalism and even target practice in the build-up to World War 1.
The most recent sculpture, which had been at the bridge for 25 years, was finally taken down last year.
It was originally hoped that, following maintenance work, the statue could be returned to its cliff-side pedestal, but it was found to be in such a bad condition it could not be repaired.
However, the process of creating a replacement is now well underway by artist David Mitchell, a Gray’s School of Art graduate, and a fundraising event has been launched by the Rob Roy Preservation Trust to cover the costs of the project.
And now, the local authority’s finance committee have voted in favour of backing the campaign with up to £30,000 from its common good budget.
Marie Boulton, the deputy leader of Aberdeen City Council said: “The trust is doing a fundraiser for themselves, but we realised they would need a maintenance budget and everything else, so £30,000 is there for them.
“It’s an iconic statue that people associate with Culter and Aberdeen, and there’s been a Rob Roy there for as long as I remember.
“It’s important that we, as a council, offer our support for important historic causes like this, and the people of Culter have adopted Rob Roy as part of their heritage.”
Doug Middleton, the chairman of the trust, added: “The project is not fully funded yet, we need around £50,000.
“We are fundraising on an ongoing basis, and we’ve got a number of fundraiser events later on this month.
“But this boost from the council is fantastic news. And it gives me confidence we’ll be able to fund this project on completion, because with the fundraising we already have in place and now this security offered by the council, we should be able to pay for it without relying on loans.”
To find out more and donate to the cause, visit www.robroyontherock.com
