Civic square timing query

OPPONENTS of Aberdeen's controversial civic square plan are demanding to address today's meeting of the full council to challenge the proposed calendar, setting out the timetable for the £140 million project.

The Friends of Union Terrace Gardens claim a revised timetable for the plan to transform the city landmark into a new civic square shows that some "significant delays" have already occurred. They want Aberdeen City Council to reject a proposal to lease the gardens to the civic square project company at an early stage.

Mike Shepherd, the group's chairman, said: "The idea of transferring a lease early is presumptuous on planning approval. If planning approval does not happen, how is the council going to get back control of the park?