Campaigners against Aberdeen’s controversial Marischal Square development have asked to meet members of a powerful watchdog as part of a probe into the scheme.
The Press and Journal revealed yesterday that Audit Scotland would consider complaints made about the £107million project as part of its annual review of the city council.
The move was welcomed by opponents of the Muse Developments scheme, however they also expressed concerns that the regulator’s verdict would not be published until the autumn.
Concerns have been raised about the council’s handling of the office, hotel and restaurant plans for Broad Street, and its impact on surrounding A-listed properties, Marischal College and Provost Skene’s House.
Councillors agreed in March to continue with the revamp plans for the old St Nicholas House council headquarters, in a narrow 22-21 vote.
Lorna McHattie, a key figure in the campaign to stop the development, said that she and fellow campaigners would seek to raise their concerns directly with the regulators.
“We’re glad to see that Audit Scotland will be looking into this city centre development further,” she said.
“We are requesting a meeting with Audit Scotland because what we want to do is compare some of the information we have with the information that the council has.”
Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart yesterday wrote to Audit Scotland to request further details about its probe into Marischal Square.
In the letter, he said: “As you are aware I have previously called on Audit Scotland to carry out an inquiry into all aspects of the decision to give the Marischal Square project the green light and I am pleased that you are taking cognisance of public concern and will report on the issue to elected members and the Controller of Audit.
“However, I am concerned that you are not going to do so until the autumn of 2015 and I am still not clear whether or not you propose to carry out a full-scale inquiry into this matter.
“Many of my constituents have expressed their concerns to me about the way that the decision to proceed with the Marischal Square development was taken and they feel that the council was not open and transparent in its dealings with them.
“My constituents want answers sooner rather than later and they want an external investigation to look at all aspects of this deal and the council decision.”
Council leader Jenny Laing said this week that the development was backed by a democratic decision of the local authority and she was confident the correct procedures had been followed.