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Aberdeen City Council working to resolve Town House row

Aberdeen Town House. Picture by Kevin Emslie.
Aberdeen Town House. Picture by Kevin Emslie.

City council chiefs said last night that they were working to try to resolve a row which has thrown the renovation of Aberdeen’s historic Town House into doubt.

The Press and Journal revealed yesterday that the authority was embroiled in a dispute with its contractors over the ÂŁ1.2million refurbishment of the 150-year-old building.

Crews at the site have found timber in the iconic clock tower roof has been “severely affected by rot”, leaving it in a “potentially dangerous condition”.

The discovery triggered a dispute over the cost of replacing the timber, amid claims that the council’s plans to put the job out to tender would breach the contract with the firm originally asked to carry out the work.

Kevin Stewart, Aberdeen Central SNP MSP, wrote to the local authority’s chief executive Angela Scott over the issue yesterday.

He questioned whether a project board had been put in place to oversee the work, and why the council had said it would not provide a “running commentary” on the renovation after the problems were made public.

Altering its stance yesterday, the city council issued a statement which confirmed that officials were working to resolve the issue.

“The repair and renewal of the Town House is an extremely complex and extensive project, involving not just the roof but the ornate clock tower and spire,” a spokesman said.

“Access to the roof space and tower was extremely limited initially as the roof was covered for safety reasons, but close inspection once the scaffolding was set up subsequently revealed the true extent of the works required.

“Careful work needs to be carried out on the 150-year-old A-listed building to renew slating and replace rotten woodwork and to replace ironwork and lead detailing, some of which is believed to be unique in the UK.”

The spokesman added: “Aberdeen City Council must also be mindful of the cost to the public purse when carrying out its duty to preserve the building, and is seeking to find the most cost-effective way possible to complete the vital works, including on the tower.

“The works on the contract have not stopped, meantime, and the contractor will continue with work on the lower roofs.

“Officials will continue to work closely with all parties involved to reach a resolution which will ensure that one of the Granite City’s finest buildings is further preserved for generations to come.”