Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Anger over suggestions historic Aberdeen building should be knocked down

The A-listed building has lain vacant for around 18 years.
The A-listed building has lain vacant for around 18 years.

The fate of a historic Aberdeen building has become the centre of a political feud.

Save Westburn House Action Group has recently been formed to bring the derelict A-listed building in Westburn Park back into use.

But local politicians have differing ideas on what the future of Westburn House should be.

Saving the city’s history: Plan to bring Westburn House back to life as tearoom and community facility

Midstocket councillor and North-East MSP Tom Mason has written in a local newsletter that the property has “passed the point beyond which it could be renovated” and suggested the possibility of a “complete replica in modern materials, but celebrating the architectural style of the original building” as a potential solution.

However, Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart said proposals to knock the 1839 property down and build a replacement show “disrespect” to the city’s history.

Mr Stewart said: “It is a disgrace that a senior councillor whose own administration has left Westburn House to rot now appears to be calling for its demolition so an imitation can be erected in its place.

“These comments show disrespect to our city’s heritage and pride in Archibald Simpson, a great architect, and the legacy he left which the Tory and suspended Labour administration have left neglected.”


>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter


Over the last 20 years, Westburn House has lain empty and been severely damaged by weather and vandals.

Last night, the Scottish Conservatives accused Mr Stewart of overreacting, and pointed out his SNP colleague who represents the area has previously suggested Westburn House “needs to be pulled”.

A spokesman said: “Tom was simply bemoaning the fact that Westburn House has fallen into serious disrepair.

“Even the local SNP councillor Bill Cormie agrees that the site is like ‘a rotten tooth that needs to be pulled’.

“It is only right that all options are considered.”

Gavin Esslemont, founder of the Save Westburn House Action Group, said proposals to rejuvenate the site have to be realistic.

https://www.facebook.com/westburnhouse/posts/541161426378806

He said: “It has to make sense for the building. If we can retain what’s there at the moment, then happy days, but you have to be practical about these things.

“But ultimately, it comes down to cost and time. The blocks are in pretty good nick, the steelwork is in pretty good nick, so if we could reuse or retain those materials that would be ideal, but if it does prove to be too costly and expensive then we have to be realistic.

“A replica would have to look exactly the same as it did in 1901.”