Protesters have been warned that “complaint fatigue” could be a key factor in their fight to halt plans for 245 flats at Aberdeen’s historic Rubislaw Quarry.
Dozens rallied to oppose the Carttera proposals for the rental properties on the northern side of the quarry – which is said to have inspired the city’s famous Granite City derivation – at a public meeting earlier this week.
The nine-storey development would also include underground parking, a gym, function room, public bistro and promenade.
The Canadian property developer has launched a second attempt to build hundreds of homes at the quarry after a failed bid in 2018.
City councillors turned down the proposals in March 2018 and the Scottish Government backed their decision when the developer appealed.
On Tuesday night, more than 30 people unanimously voted for Craigiebuckler and Seafield Community Council to oppose the plans.
More than 300 letters of objection were submitted before those proposals were thrown out two years ago – but now, with only a week until the February 6 deadline for public submissions, just under 50 have been sent in.
One man at Tuesday’s meeting, who did not wish to be named, said protesters had to “galvanise” opposition to the plans, and warned: “The developer’s strategy is complaint fatigue – the hope people might be too frustrated to go through this again.”
Vocal opponent of the development businessman Hugh Black, who hopes to build a heritage centre at the quarry to mark the significance of the granite industry, added: “We need to make sure the public make their voice heard.”
Carttera – which already has permission for 116 flats at the site – declined an invitation to have a representative at the meeting at Harlaw Academy.