Aberdeen City Council’s finance convener has come under fire for claiming a controversial £107million development would create 4,000 jobs.
Protesters against Muse Development’s Marischal Square plans are also demanding answers from Willie Young after he claimed the authority could lose £100million if the plans were scrapped.
Last night Mr Young revealed the local authority had now received its first payment from the firm – and insisted there was “no going back” on the scheme.
The figures – quoted in a Press and Journal interview with the Labour councillor last month – were questioned by Lorna McHattie, a vocal campaigner from the Reject Marischal Square Development group.
She said: “Willie Young is quoted as claiming that the development will create 4,000 jobs. The Muse website states that 1,500 jobs will be created.
“If both principle parties cannot agree on these important facts, the raison d’etre for the development, what confidence can the public have in the future of the development?
“What is the penalty for withdrawal from the contract, as opposed to Willie Young’s recent claim that it would cost the city £100million? How can he justify this statement?
“Could we lose £100million by having a white elephant eyesore?”
Mr Young denied making the jobs claim and refused to explain the £100million figure, adding: “There’s nothing the council can do now.
“I never said there would be 4,000 new jobs, I said there’d be 4,000 jobs. There’s the potential for 4,000 jobs,” he said.
“We have given Muse the site. We have already received our first tranche of money. There is no going back.
“We can’t stop the development, we can’t do anything. They have got planning permission.
“Aberdeen City Council no longer owns that site, that site belongs to Muse. We have sold the development as per what we agreed.”
A spokesman for Muse said about 1,500 new jobs would be created and the construction process would provide work for about 300 people.
The questions were raised as Aberdeen MSP, Kevin Stewart, lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling on Aberdeen City Council to reconsider what he labelled “the most unpopular development ever” in the city.