Campaigners have hit out after a plan to breath new life into Aberdeen completely neglected the historic landmark they are battling to save.
The Save the Bon Accord Baths group is furious that Aberdeen City Council approved the blueprint for a masterplan to mend the city’s “broken heart” – without factoring in the Art Deco building.
The document includes plans for 1,600 new homes, the pedestrianisation of several key city streets and an expansion of Union Terrace Gardens.
One section of the masterplan report is devoted to the development of the west end of Union Street – but with no mention of the historic Bon Accord Baths on Justice Mill Lane.
Last night head of facilities and fundraising for Save the Bon Accord Baths, John Law, said he had been left with a feeling of “deep frustration and disappointment” after reading the study.
He said: “It is just mind-blowing.
“It is an enormous building- a jewel in the crown of Aberdeen – that is completely left out. It is incredible, there is no mention of it.
“There is a whole section about providing a city to live in, yet no mention of the Bon Accord Baths and how it could play a part.
“We have got massive support from the community and no one has come to ask us our opinion.”
The closing date for bids on the baths has been set for July 7 and the group hopes to draft a business case for restoring it to its former glory in time for the deadline.
The masterplan was drafted by consultants BDP.
Last night the council’s finance convener, Willie Young, said: “I don’t know what their reason for not factoring the Bon Accord Baths in is, But we can improve upon the masterplan.
“Although it was passed yesterday there is no reason why we can’t include doing something with the Bon Accord Baths.
“People have been given the opportunity to put forward an offer for the baths. If they put in a bid at the end of the day we will look at the bid.”