A campaign group set up to give the people of Aberdeen a greater voice on planning decisions has voiced concerns about the consultation process for a new blueprint for the city centre.
Aberdeen Beautiful said it was looking forward to getting involved in the debate around the draft masterplan, but sounded a note of caution about the timing and “lack of notice” of local events.
The issue of public involvement in the planning process has become the subject of national debate in recent weeks due to conflict over the Marischal Square plans in Aberdeen and similarly contentious proposals for the Royal Concert Hall steps in Glasgow and the Royal High School building in Edinburgh.
Many residents in the Granite City feel their views were not taken on board during the consultation on the Muse Developments plan for Broad Street, when hundreds of people submitted written comments that did not qualify as objections to the planning application itself.
A statement issued by Aberdeen Beautiful said: “At this moment in time we will not be drawn on any conclusions about the masterplan until we have had the opportunity to view the full proposal at a consultation event.
“We encourage all citizens of Aberdeen to get involved in the public consultation, with the hope that their voices are heard and that this truly delivers a vision that the people want.
“We hold some concerns over the timetabling and lack of notice over the public consultation.
“We do not feel the length or notice period for the consultation is sufficient, nor is there enough weekend consultation provided.
“Aberdeen is proud of its offshore workforce, it is disappointing and somewhat disrespectful that some might miss out on the opportunity to be involved in the masterplan due to shift patterns”
The group suggested that a longer and “staggered” consultation process would have been more appropriate.
Deputy council leader Marie Boulton has urged people to make sure that they have their say in the latest stage of the masterplan process, which starts on Saturday and runs until March 29.
She said all councils have to work to the planning framework set by the Scottish Government.
Mrs Boulton said: “There are so many steps before a planning application that people need to be involved in.
“It starts with the legislation that’s coming out of the Scottish Government, we must make sure that we feed into that so the public can affect what’s coming out.
“We could find ourselves more and more being cut out of being able to change things by the time it comes down to our level.”
Business bodies including Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future and Visit Aberdeen have responded positively to the masterplan.
Richard Noble, chairman of Aberdeen Inspired, said recent talks by experts from Gothenburg, Manchester and Calgary have highlighted good practice that Aberdeen can “cherry pick” from.
He added: “Central to the successes of these cities has been leadership, belief, focus, delivery mechanisms and a long term plan. There is no reason why we cannot succeed if we can secure those ingredients.”
There is a consultation event this weekend at the David Welch Winter Gardens at Duthie Park from 12pm to 2pm, with another from 9am to 6pm at the Aberdeen International Market on Union Terrace on Saturday and Sunday.