January 2010 • The City Square Project

We showed the conceptual drawings to shoppers at Union Square, Aberdeen and asked them for their views. Here is what they thought:

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A major public consultation to ask people for their views on plans to create a new civic space by redeveloping Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens and Denburn Valley kicked off today (Monday 11 January 2009).

Over a period of eight weeks ACSEF (Aberdeen City & Shire Economic Future) will seek to consult with as many people as possible on its City Square Project in a bid to determine the future vision of the city centre.

The City Square Project will be a truly radical transformation of the city centre and offers a real opportunity to create a vibrant and thriving destination which will not only improve the quality of life for people in the region but will also help safeguard the north east’s economic future.

By raising Union Terrace Gardens and the Denburn Valley to the surrounding street level and covering over the railway and the dual carriageway, an accessible, safe, connected, public space can be realised. Aberdeen City and Shire has one chance to get this right. It is vital that as many people as possible participate in the public consultation to ensure that fantastic space is created that everyone can be proud of for generations to come.

The proposal, spearheaded by ACSEF, will create over 5 acres of ground at street level and a further 2.5 acres of all-weather, covered space with significant daylight below. This gives plenty of opportunity to retain a minimum of 2.5 acres of gardens at street level.

Individuals, businesses and communities throughout the region will be asked what they think of proposals to revamp the space and for their ideas of what should be included in the space.

“We want as many people as possible across all sectors to get involved,” says Tom Smith, Chairman of ACSEF. “It is only by obtaining a wide cross section of opinions that the most appropriate way forward can be reached.”

The consultation will run from 11 January until 5 March and will ask people:

• What the five most important features of a civic space are to them
• What they would like to see in the City Square
• Do they support ACSEF’s vision to raise the level of Union Terrace Gardens and Denburn Valley

A host of ways are available for people to get involved and have their say including public exhibitions in Aberdeen’s shopping centres and in Peterhead and Inverurie. Leaflets about the project will be distributed along with a feedback form which will also be available online. A telephone hotline has been set up along with a dedicated website and text messaging service.

Feedback can also be submitted on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook or by e-mail.

Further discussions will be held with focus groups including the business sector, young people, the arts community, residents and community groups, public and charity sector organisations and council members.

“There are so many different ways for people to get involved, everyone has the opportunity to comment,” adds Tom Smith. “It is crucial that a matter as significant as the future of Aberdeen city centre is thoroughly considered by all who will have an interest and I would appeal to the people of Aberdeen city and shire to make their comments and feelings known. The opinions of those who have lived for many years in or around the city will be extremely valuable, as will the wishes and beliefs of future generations who will be the real beneficiaries in the years to come.

“Several plans and options for the city centre have been suggested over the years and there is a need to breathe new life into this area of Aberdeen. What we hope to establish from the consultation are the public’s thoughts on how best this can be achieved.”

If the consultation shows a swell of support for the City Square Project detailed plans for the space will be prepared drawing on people’s feedback and then the scheme will be taken forward to reality.

The exhibitions will take place at the following venues:

• Mall Trinity, Thursday 14 January, 9am-8pm and Friday 15 January, 9am-6pm
• Union Square, Friday 29 January and Saturday 30 January, 9am-6pm
• Inverurie Town Hall, Monday 1 February 9am – 5pm
• Aberdeen University Students’ Association , The Hub, Tuesday 2 February 9am-5pm
• Robert Gordon University, Business School, Wednesday 10 February 9am-7pm
• Bon Accord Centre, Friday 12 February 9am- 5.30pm and Saturday 13 February 9am- 6pm
• Peterhead Leisure and Community Centre Saturday 27 February 9am – 5pm

There are various ways to give feedback. These include:

• Website: www.thecitysquareproject.com
• Freephone: 0800 111 4881
• Email: consultation@thecitysquareproject.com
• Text: 60777 starting messages with the word ‘Square’
• Twitter: @thecitysquare
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/citysquareproject

Following the consultation, a full report will be prepared and made available to the public.