Aberdeen council calls for city to ‘move forward’ after City Garden vote

The administration’s leaders have revealed that their own future plans for regenerating the Victorian gardens will include a “cooperative cafe” and reopening the underground toilets in the city centre park.

The coalition, formed by the Labour, Conservative and Independent Alliance groups on the council, has announced plans to move forward with proposals for future investment and regeneration schemes in Aberdeen - without the inclusion of the controversial City Garden Project, following last month’s narrow vote to abandon the £140 million scheme.

Earlier this week Alex Neil, the former Infrastructure Minister, told the Scottish Parliament that a tax incremental finance (TIF) scheme for the regeneration of Aberdeen could not proceed without the inclusion of the City Garden Project.

Councillor Barney Crockett, the leader of the council, said: “The council’s decision to not progress any further with the Granite Web was clear for everyone to see. That decision stands and ultimatums from the Scottish Government will not alter that position.

“This council didn’t simply decide to abandon the City Garden Project, on 22 August, it also made a clear commitment to focus on alternative proposals to regenerate the city centre. Though disappointed to hear the Scottish Government will not consider any variance of the TIF application I am certain that we can make widespread and significant improvements to the city centre which are affordable and sustainable, and which do not require us to make massive borrowings.”

Willie Young, the council’s finance convener, said: “We need now to move forward as a city. The administration will bring forward plans for Union Terrace Gardens shortly which could include having more city events in the gardens, a cooperative café and looking to open the toilets at Union Terrace Gardens.”