An objector to multimillion-pound redevelopment plans for the site of Aberdeen City Council’s former headquarters has launched a petition urging a rethink.
Lorna McHattie was one of several members of the public who spoke in opposition to the £107million Marischal Square scheme at a public hearing on August 29.
The former lecturer at the Robert Gordon University school of pharmacy said she felt compelled to act to ensure that the process followed by the local authority is fully scrutinised.
Councillors on the planning development management committee are due to vote on the office, hotel and retail proposal from Muse Developments Ltd on September 25.
It is expected, however, that a final decision will not be taken until a meeting of the full council on October 8.
Muse was selected as the authority’s preferred bidder for the site in May last year, and the developer embarked upon a lengthy period of public consultation before tabling detailed plans.
Mrs McHattie, 57, said: “There were over 4,000 people who thought it important enough to attend the Muse consultation.
“I believe that in the area of 800 people actually wrote comments down then we had 43 objections to the planning application.
“That’s why I want to look at the process, because I don’t feel there was appropriate guidance for the public to use the official process which was about writing into the planning department.
“Ultimately, I would like to see the decision delayed for the next meeting, then have a look at the process before they take the decision to make sure they are actually representing the wishes of the people of Aberdeen.”
Mrs McHattie, of Louisville Avenue, also believes that the plans should be referred to the Scottish Government, given the council has a financial interest in the development and owns the land in question.
Her mother, Margaret Walters, 79, of Abergeldie Road, said she took part in the consultation, but fears many residents do not trust the council to listen to public opinion.
The council’s finance convener Willie Young, said: “All I can say is, because it is about planning, councillors will discuss the application at the meeting, when they will hear how our officers propose to deal with the application. It would be unfair to prejudge it.”
More than 100 people have already signed the petition, which is online at www.change.org.
It is titled – “Reject planning permission for the proposed plans for the Marischal Square development, application number 140698”.