The UK Government should be “embarrassed” at failing to put up £20 million for the regeneration of Aberdeen beach – as billions leave the north-east every month through the windfall tax.
Ministers were last night accused of “levelling down” the Granite City as the multi-million-pound bid for levelling up cash was refused.
Aberdeenshire will benefit from this second round of the post-Brexit funding.
But the bid to help cover the cost of the regeneration of Aberdeen beach was unsuccessful.
Lack of levelling up funding ‘will not change’ Aberdeen beach regeneration promise
Despite the setback, city leaders pledged to press on with their “ambitious” beachfront plans.
SNP council co-leader Alex Nicoll said the news was “extremely disappointing”.
He also said only finding out that Aberdeen had missed out when approached by The Press And Journal for comment added “insult to injury”.
“We have a real vision to transform the beach and the UK Government have once again snubbed Aberdeen,” he told us.
“I would like to reassure citizens that the SNP, in partnership with the Liberal Democrats, are committed to transforming our beachfront and unlocking its full potential.
“The fact we have not been awarded the funding will not change that.”
His Lib Dem council co-leader Ian Yuill added: “People are now rightly asking just what Aberdeen needs to do to get funding from government – first Aberdeen is knocked back for a green freeport and now we have been snubbed for levelling up funding.”
The Granite City has already been given £20 million to help cover the cost of a new market development hoped to bring visitors back to Union Street.
What would levelling up cash have paid for at Aberdeen beach?
Aberdeen’s further request for another £20 million would have paid for a new playpark and sports fields, a bike track, events space, “gateway” and “hub” buildings, and a new canopy at the beach.
It also would have helped with work to pedestrianise parts of the seafront and build better links with the Castlegate.
However, it was never intended to cover any of the cost of the plans for a new Aberdeen FC stadium.
Since the funding application was submitted in August, council bosses have made it clear no public money will be used on a replacement for Pittodrie.
While this could have been a second big-money show of support for regeneration efforts, it was instead a second governmental snub for Aberdeen in recent days.
It was only last week The P&J revealed the Highlands would gain a green freeport at Cromarty Firth, instead of the north-east.
News of this latest setback came only hours after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack had written directly to our readers.
“I would like to reassure people that the UK Government is right behind the north-east and suggestions to the contrary are wide of the mark,” he said on Wednesday morning.
‘Embarrassing’ that ministers would snub Aberdeen beach regeneration
But only 16 hours later, Westminster was being accused of taking an “anywhere but bl**dy Aberdeen” approach, yet again.
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce policy director Ryan Crighton said it was “great news” for the “transformational” projects along the Banff and Buchan coast.
However, he fumed: “The Treasury is now raking in £2.1 billion per month from North Sea oil and gas following the imposition of the windfall tax. So the suggestion that it is unable to find £20 million to support the redevelopment of Aberdeen beach is embarrassing.
“When did the government’s levelling up agenda turn into a programme to level down Aberdeen?
“The city is looking for answers following the rejection of its green freeport bid because warm words about investment mean absolutely nothing without action.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen Labour leader Barney Crockett accused all levels of government of a failure to help the city in its hour of need.
“I think people will be incensed that the city has made such a massive contribution to the country and we are not getting the treatment we require at this time.”
Council leadership were in ‘regular contact’ with the UK Government
Leader of the Aberdeen Conservatives Ryan Houghton said it was “obviously disappointing” that the second levelling up bid had been turned down.
But he was quick to draw attention to the success – secured after a face-to-face with Michael Gove – of the previous Labour-led administration his group was part of.
Having secured the previous £20 million, he added: “I am sure the new administration will work more positively to fully engage with the UK Government – not only on levelling up funding but any other streams which become available.”
The co-leaders said in November they had been in “regular contact” with the Scotland Office on the Aberdeen beach levelling up cash.
But Ian Yuill joked that the pair carried a curse, such was the “brutal” ministerial turnover they were met with.
“One was actually sacked whilst he was with us,” he told councillors.
“His replacement met us and within a couple of days had got the chop as well.”
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