Aberdeen beach could be revitalised to attract more tourists to the city.
The opposition SNP group has claimed the area has been neglected for too long and pledged a Dundee-style renaissance – including better links to the city centre.
It comes as the leader of the city council hailed the centrepiece Broad Street pedestrianisation as the first step towards Aberdeen becoming a “city of the future.”
Council chiefs yesterday announced their eight-phase plan for the long-awaited £3.2million scheme which will result in the street being open to only pedestrians, buses and bicycles.
Leader Jenny Laing revealed the Broad Street work was just a first glimpse of ambitious plans for the next five years – with driverless buses and cars, roads with built-in pothole warnings and park benches with wi-fi all part of the city’s future.
Broad Street has been described as the “heart of the masterplan”, a 25-year city centre regeneration project unanimously backed by all parties.
But now the SNP group have put forward their own rival vision for a second masterplan for the city’s waterfront.
Their plan for the beach area is contained within their manifesto, which states a key aim is to “develop a masterplan for our waterfront and how it connects to the city centre”.
Group leader Stephen Flynn said the massive work could be based on his home city of Dundee’s ambitious work along its own waterfront, which includes bringing the V&A to the area.
Last night, he said the current 25-year city centre masterplan “didn’t go far enough”.
“I think we need to take a more holistic view of what we want for that area of the city,” he said.
“I think it will come as no surprise that if we look just 60 miles down the coast we have seen an SNP council transforming the waterfront of Dundee.
“We believe that we should push forward to see what we could achieve with this area that for too long has simply been a second thought.
“Our coast is one of the major benefits that we enjoy in this city and we must use it to the best.”
But Mrs Laing, the leader of the city’s ruling Labour group, said the ambitious work on Broad Street would make Aberdeen rank among “Europe’s most progressive cities”.
Free wi-fi has already been installed on Broad Street ahead of the pedestrianisation work and Mrs Laing said this was just a sign of things to come.
She said: “Those who opposed progress will see for themselves in a few short years that this was the right decision.
“It’s bold and it’s brave and it’s a decision that will help us retain our young people who will needs jobs and security in the years ahead.
“This is the benchmark for our regeneration programme. It will help us sit alongside Europe’s most progressive cities.
“It is a positive step that needed to be taken and we must halt the habit of looking back to the past.
“The city centre will change in appearance and atmosphere over the next decade and the people of Aberdeen will recognise that what we have set out to do will be for the benefit of all our citizens.”
The Broad Street design includes a water feature, trees and benches, improved lighting, and a raised grass area offering flexible event space in front of Marischal College.
Traffic lights at Upperkirkgate and Gallowgate are to be removed and replaced with a shared surface for vehicles and a mini-roundabout. There will be a Toucan crossing at the Union Street end.
The street and Castlegate will be the location for future Christmas markets.
A council spokeswoman said: “The works will take several months to complete and Broad Street will be closed to all traffic from Upperkirkgate to Queen Street during this time.”
