Friends Of Union Terrace Gardens

Campaigners are worried that plans to regenerate Aberdeen city centre will lead Union Terrace Gardens being sacrificed to commercial pressures.

Concern has been expressed that commercial pressures will lead to the development of a prized green space in Aberdeen city centre.

Earlier this week the local authority unveiled a £1billion plan to reinvent the city with 30 projects over the next 20 to 30 years.

The regeneration includes the partial pedestrianisation of Union Street, a new public square to reinvigorate the Castlegate/Castlehill area; and a revamp of the Denburn Valley with a walkway connecting Union Terrace Gardens with Belmont Street.

The council believes the plans could help deliver an additional 11,000 jobs and add £290million to the city's "gross annual income".

As the draft plans goes on public display for the first time this weekend, worries have been expressed about Union Terrace Gardens, the centre of the 2012 debacle in which Sir Ian Wood's £50million offer to revamp the park was rejected by the council.

The campaign group Friends of Union Terrace Gardens said drawings for the city centre regeneration remove some of the parks much loved elements such as the original Victorian steps.

Chairman Robin McIntosh they will be attending the consultation sessions and examining the proposals in detail.

"We do, however, note that the sum of £20million for the entire delivery of city centre regeneration is not likely to be adequate for everything proposed," he said.

"We have concerns that imperatives of commercial development might be permitted to override the desires of Aberdeen residents for an attractive city centre where people choose to live, work and relax.

"Union Terrace Gardens must remain a much loved asset for the city centre, with proper recognition of its nature as a Victorian pleasure garden complementing the surrounding fine collection of granite buildings."

The latest phase of the consultation surrounding the masterplan will get under this weekend with a stand at the International Market on Union Terrace and a development team visiting the David Welch Winter Gardens in Duthie Park.

Councillor Marie Boulton, chairwoman of the City Centre Regeneration Working Group, said: "The masterplan proposals provide us with a wonderful opportunity to deliver a lasting legacy for Aberdeen and we are determined to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to make their mark and continue to have a say on a project which will prepare us for the next 20 years and beyond."

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Friends Of Union Terrace Gardens

Source: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/519399/commercial-pressures-must-not-lead-development-union-terrace-gardens/

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