Sir Alex Ferguson backs Aberdeen garden plan

SIR Alex Ferguson has thrown his weight behind a new campaign to secure a public vote in favour of the controversial transformation of Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens.

Sir Alex, who led the Dons to glory in Gothenburg in 1983 when Aberdeen won the European Cup Winners’ Cup, said that the futuristic “Granite Web” design, being proposed for the City Garden Project, would help kickstart the regeneration of a “down-at-heel” Union Street and he urged Aberdonians to back the £140 million transformational scheme being spearheaded by oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood.

The Manchester United boss said: “I am hugely proud of my links to Aberdeen with its long and illustrious history, but on my last visit to the city just before Christmas, I felt that Union Street and one or two of the streets off there that I was in were somewhat down-at-heel and need to have something, to kickstart the city centre to make it something of which we can all be proud.

“I know that change does not come readily to many people, but in all walks of life change is needed from time to time simply to reinvigorate. I think that the City Garden Project has the potential to assist the regeneration of the city centre and provide much more usable facilities for future generations.”

Sir Alex, who was made a Freeman of Aberdeen in 1999, added: “I would urge everyone not to be scared of change and to look upon this as an opportunity and something which will allow Aberdeen to be favourably compared with cities both in the UK and further afield.”

The new Vote for City Garden campaign is being bankrolled by 50 prominent business leaders including, Stewart Milne, chairman of Aberdeen FC and head of the Stewart Milne Group.

The campaign group is planning a mass leafleting and internet campaign in the build-up to the crucial vote next month.

A spokeswoman for the campaign said: “The City Garden is a project that will regenerate the whole city centre, boosting the economy, creating jobs and enhancing the cultural and social fabric of the region.

“The design will double the amount of green gardens, new spaces for cultural activities and better access and connections across the whole city centre.”

It was also revealed yesterday 64 per cent of the members of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce have backed the City Garden Project.