Business support for City Square slammed

Said Sue Edwards, “Following the announcement by various trade groups representing north-east businesses that they are backing Sir Ian Wood’s city square plan, many members of the Federation of Small Businesses are angry that they were not consulted nor had their opinions sought by the FSB.

“This announcement implies that the majority of FSB members are behind the city square plan, and this couldn’t be further from the truth.  The most worrying aspect of this whole affair is that Andy Willox, the policy convenor of the FSB in Scotland, and the chairman of the north-east Scotland branch, is also a member of the ACSEF board, and there therefore appears to be a distinct conflict of interest here.  ACSEF are said to be driving the project which they say is hoped would be the catalyst for regenerating the region.

“There is a huge tide of objection to Sir Ian Wood’s plans which would wipe the proposed development by Peacock Visual Arts off the drawing board.  The Peacock project, which has the majority of its funding at hand, and planning permission, would cost less than a tenth of the proposed Wood development.  It would preserve the historic ‘green heart’ of the city and yet draw people down into the iconic gardens.

“To spend £140million in these difficult times when a far less costly and destructive plan is up and ready to be put into effect is very shortsighted, and I understand that a lot of people think the same way.”