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Union Terrace Gardens proposals don't stack up
Aberdeen Greens have lent their weight to the campaign to protect Union Terrace Gardens as part of a wider commitment to valuing green spaces in our towns and cities.
Union Terrace Gardens with proposed new Arts Centre
Local campaigner and parliamentary candidate for Aberdeen South, Rhonda Reekie said "Green spaces in towns and cities are valuable and valued even by people who rarely get the opportunity to set foot in them. Just knowing there is a green haven helps in a busy environment. And of course Union Terrace Gardens is the only large area of gardens and trees in Aberdeen's centre."
ASCEF is running a consultation in both the City and the Shire. Councillor Debra Storr said "I am disappointed that ASCEF seems to have simply gone along with Ian Wood's pet project rather than critically examining all the options. The three options they were presented with should have gone out to consultation and I am ashamed of the councillors on ASCEF for not insisting on this.."
The documents on the options presented to ASCEFsaid that with 11% retail vacancies in the city centre, more mainstream shops are not needed or wanted. Even cafes and specialist shops would depend on Peacock Arts Centre and another civic attraction for their viability. The document suggests it would be necessary to move the Energy Centre from the beach where the link to North Sea energy exploitation is obvious to the new development.
Cllr Storr continued "If there is no demand for retail or hotels, then the Ian Wood proposals for Union Terrace Gardens collapse down to a compromised Arts Centre pushed below ground, a relocated Energy Centre and 490 car parking spaces. Subtract from the £140m cost of this vanity project, £9m for Peacock Arts and £18m for the Energy Centre, and we get a £113m car park with a few cafes. I can not believe spending that £230,000 per car parking space and destroying an wonderful asset is sensible."
Rhonda Reekie added "The huge outcry will, I am sure, stop the City and Shire losing a valuable and valued green space to create car parking and a concrete desert."
ENDS
Note: The documents outlining the option to ASCEF are available at http://www.acsef.co.uk/infoPageMS.cfm?pageID=10&MSID=14
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