Developers behind the £375million expansion of Aberdeen harbour have offered £70,000 over three years for community charities.
Construction giants Dragados are behind the ambitious plans to transform Nigg Bay and harbour chiefs have boasted the new facility will significantly expand the industrial capacity at the port and even potentially allow for cruise liners to dock in the Granite City.
An independent study, commissioned by Scottish Enterprise, estimates the development will generate an additional £1billion per annum to the economy by 2035 and create an additional 7,000 equivalent jobs
In return, the developer previously announced it would give local community groups a boost by offering up grants.
And in a leaflet due to be sent out, Dragados say “The Aberdeen harbour expansion is the biggest project happening in Torry for years and Dragados UK want to demonstrate our commitment to community benefit.”
It is how now emerged £23,000 will be given each year – with each not-for-profit organisation allowed to bid for a maximum of £5,000.
But last night, community groups branded the amount as “disappointing”, claiming it was not enough.
Torry is one of Aberdeen’s most deprived communities with higher than average levels of unemployment and foodbank use and around a quarter of the area’s children live in poverty.
David Fryer, secretary of Torry Community Council, said that the community allocations were unlikely to make much difference.
He said: “The low levels being offered are obviously disappointing and I think the comparable sums speak for themselves.
“The long established official response has been that the economic benefits of the city and the region will outweigh this.
“But we know that Torry will take the biggest ecological hit from the development.”
Torry councillor Catriona Mackenzie said she hoped Dragados would consider increasing the sum.
She said: “It is disappointing to see such a low amount offered for community initiatives in comparison to the amount of the project itself.
“I hope that this doesn’t put off not-for-profit organisations in the area off from making applications for funding and that if uptake is high then Dragados would consider increasing the sum.”
Despite repeated attempts yesterday Dragados did not respond to requests for comment.
The harbour is due to be completed by 2020 after being sanctioned by Aberdeen Harbour Board in December – with hopes that the city could even host cruise ships once the work is finished.
Concrete would be produced 24 hours a day during the three year construction and at its peak 250 workers will be working on the project.
