Options revealed in Sir Ian Wood’s vision for Union Terrace Gardens
Hundreds back tycoon’s bid
Published:
THE debate about the future of Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens is well and truly under way.
Sir Ian Wood’s astonishing offer of £50 million would be used to help create a new civic square at street level in the heart of Aberdeen.
Sir Ian wants it to stretch all the way to Belmont Street and would be looking for public backing and funding support from the public and private sector.
A feasibility study on the plans for Union Terrace Gardens is due for completion in March 2009. Options would then go out for public consultation with a decision on any plan expected by December.
Hundreds of people have already spoken out in support of Sir Ian’s vision.
And in an independent survey of 735 people commissioned by the Evening Express, 392 (53%) backed the idea.
However, it has also raised many questions – not least what is done with the space above and below ground.
Today we look at some of the options.
CAR PARKING
THERE would be room for hundreds of cars below the civic square at Union Terrace Gardens.
Retail expert Andrew Turnbull, a lecturer at Robert Gordon University, said making the square “accessible” was a must.
He said: “The practicalities of car parking must be considered. If this is to be a success, infrastructure needs to be there in support.”
However, bringing more cars into the city centre would create congestion challenges.
The city council’s transport policy aims to get people on the bus.
Sir Ian isn’t keen on the idea either.
He said: “My vision certainly doesn’t see significant building above ground or significant car parking underground.”
A NEW TRAIN STATION
YOU would step off the train – and continue serenely upwards to the civic square.
Sir Ian said: “The new square could also provide the opportunity to bring train and bus passengers into the heart of the city by utilising the rail tracks and roadway below and linking them to lifts and escalators.”
A train stop would support the city council’s push for improved public transport – and would be just a short hop from the new transport hub at Union Square.
A Union Square spokesman said: “We would welcome any plans that would enhance the city.”
MORE SHOPS
MONTREAL and Moscow houses shops underground – and retail expert Andrew Turnbull believes Aberdeen could do the same.
He said: “The current economic climate should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. A downturn is almost invariably followed by a period of recovery.”
He believes the city could support an underground shopping centre and the £250 million Union Square retail and transport hub – due to open in 2009 – just half a mile to the south.
ABERDEEN’S CENTRAL PARK
SIR Ian describes his vision for Union Terrace Gardens as a “cross between the Grand Italian Piazza and a mini Central Park”.
Other than providing a home for the Peacock Arts Centre, he sees little building above ground.
Indeed, he hopes the square “will highlight the quality of the surrounding architecture”.
It could also help provide the impetus to tackle one of city’s biggest eyesores – the derelict Triple Kirks site on Schoolhill.
A spokeswoman for The Stewart Milne Group, which owns it, said: “We have bought the site at Triple Kirks but we haven’t finalised any plans for development yet.
“So it’s premature to consider how the site could be developed in line with Sir Ian’s vision.”
A TOURIST ATTRACTION
TEN years ago plans for a tourist attraction to rival Glasgow’s Burrell Collection and Edinburgh Castle were unveiled. It was to be based around “oil” and the ingenuity of North Sea workers.
One city businessman said the perfect showcase would be the space beneath a new civic square.
Charles Skene, of Skene Investments, said: “There could be a range of hand-exhibits showing all the professions connected with oil.”
Mr Skene first proposed the idea of raising Union Terrace Gardens in the early 1980s when he was head of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce.
The property company boss said: “I’m strongly in favour of what is proposed. It is major opportunity.
“It is the last great open space which is under-utilised.”
Readers' Comments
. Please please can’t we retain anything as it used to be. The union terrace gardens is a natural amphitheatre, which is brilliant for bands etc, also even on a windy day you can escape the worst of it by going down to the gardens. Even a blustery day can seem mild in down at garden level. This is a tremendous gesture by Sir Wood, but all that’s needed is the toilets re-opened, the gardens spruced up, proper lighting, maybe a restaurant or cafe down at garden level, and perhaps some of the fun things of yesteryear brought back such as garden chess, crochet etc We are losing site of what a wonderful facility Union Terrace gardens already is, it is unique, and the granite walls and ornaments shout out "this is Aberdeen". Please o please can we retain at least some of what is good old Aberdeen. It’s nice to have a little left of what our parents and grandparents experienced. Yes upgrade it, yes put in a few more facilities, and yes even a few more police patrols to keep the undesirables away, but we must retain some of our history for future generations. Just one more small point the gardens are an oasis of peace for one reason and that is because they are below ground level, cant we keep some of that. Remember Aberdeen can’t afford to maintain and keep what we already have, so let’s keep things modest and with taste, and perhaps future generations of Aberdonians can enjoy the same (albeit better kept) gardens that our parents did.
Steven Thomson
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What? No world-class golf course?
Pugster Vegetarian-Option
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What is the point in commenting unless you are in favour of the Peacock proposal. Any comments in favour of Sir Ian Woods proposal is complained about and deleted.
Abbie Mann
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Everyone is entitled to their opinion on our site. Some comments on this theme have been deleted because of bad language and defamatory comments, not because of the sentiments expressed.
Web Editor
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He claims he is contributing to the city, yet is demanding a ridiculous amount of money from the city in order for any of his plans to be feasible. The square is a way for him to create an area he can put his name to, and it seems he will only help it if its done exactly his way. And why exactly does he think more shops and more traffic coming into the city is what Aberdeen is in need of—has he not considered the abundance of empty units there are filling our current shopping centres, and the fact 1700 new car parking spaces are already being created thanks to the new Union Square Shopping centre?!
maisy middleton
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He claims he is contributing to the city, yet is demanding a ridiculous amount of money from the city in order for any of his plans to be feasible. The square is a way for him to create an area he can put his name to, and it seems he will only help it if its done exactly his way. And why exactly does he think more shops and more traffic coming into the city is what Aberdeen is in need of—has he not considered the abundance of empty units there are filling our current shopping centres, and the fact 1700 new car parking spaces are already being created thanks to the new Union Square Shopping centre?!
maisy middleton
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He claims he is contributing to the city, yet is demanding a ridiculous amount of money from the city in order for any of his plans to be feasible. The square is a way for him to create an area he can put his name to, and it seems he will only help it if its done exactly his way. And why exactly does he think more shops and more traffic coming into the city is what Aberdeen is in need of—has he not considered the abundance of empty units there are filling our current shopping centres, and the fact 1700 new car parking spaces are already being created thanks to the new Union Square Shopping centre?!
maisy middleton
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"Hundreds back" Wood's offer? What a fantastic piece of creative journalism that is. Hundreds disagreed with the scheme too, 53% is hardly an impressive majority. The fact is that Woods has steamrolled over the existing, approved plans for the new Peacock VA to create his own little legacy within Aberdeen. The Peacock building has been sensitively designed and would create a vibrant contemporary centre for the arts. Wood's plan would create a concrete area ala castlegate that would add nothing to the city and would no doubt be covered in adverts and starbucks stands within a year of completion. Ultimatly however, in a city where, after years of mismanagement by our beloved council, cutbacks are costing jobs, affecting schools, diverting funds from the the disabled and closing leisure facilities how can Aberdeen council even contemplate spending £50 million just on the whim of a oil tycoon's ego?
Iain Kay
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"...on the whim of an oil tycoon's ego" Dear, oh dear. £50m of a person's personal fortune is some 'whim', to say nothing of his philanthropy in Africa. If the above comments are representative of feeling in Aberdeen, then the city should be allowed to continue its depressing decline. For long enough it has been abandoned by shoppers who go in droves not just to Edinburgh and Glasgow, but now even to Dundee and Inverness. Food critics shun the place as there isn't a top class restaurant: the Scottish Arts Council has few reasons to put money into what has become a depressed cultural scene. Attendances at HMT are pathetically low. And so on. Yet, your average Aberdonian spits venom at public spirited acts and shows no civic pride. I'm glad I don't live there.
Jock Willam
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I wish I lived where you do Jock, the EE used to allow adults to post their opinions, fair enough delete the bad language, the reply to my postfrom the EE implies mine were removed for the reasons given, I have NEVER posted a swear word on this site or defamed anyone. If "sensitive" people dont like a contrary opinion they report it. Odd how the same opinion against the proposal has been allowed to be posted three times. Nothing like being unbiased is there. Will Aberdeen ever move forward, how many on here go abroad for holidays and wish that Aberdeens town centre was a wee bit like the ones they are strolling through.The council is bankrupt, yet we veto Trumps plan, veto Ian Woods, anything that would bring money in is vetoed, Aberdeen has to stay stagnant. Union Street is not the shopping mecca of 30-40 years ago, wake up.
Abbie Mann
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Aberdeen used to be shopping mecca? What happened? I dont think this little town will ever get it right!
jane gore
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Yes Jane it was a shopping mecca, there was four dept stores alone, take a look next time you are on Union Street, every one of those building societies/bookies/fast food places/cafe-bars used to be a shop, a thriving shop. The shopping malls were the death knell of Union Street. So we now have to live with the shopping mall, it is no reason though that we cannot have a decent civic centre, a nice garden where those who use the dreaded malls can take a breather, in an area that is stagnating and deserves new life. To heck with those who say leave well alone, for what reason exactly, because they dont want change and nine times out of ten do not even live in Aberdeen. The council is bankrupt but the Peacock people were happy to take three million quid, how many schools could have used that money. They are as single minded as the Trump objectors,their way or no way, to heck with what the majority want. I had a look at their 3D video and how those plans were ever approved astounds me, it is not in keeping with the area, is too futuristic and is for the benefit of very few.
Abbie Mann
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Aberdeen will never rival Glasgow or Edinburgh, face it folks!
jane gore
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I don't think that rivalling Edinburgh and Glasgow is something that Aberdeen should even bother with. One of Aberdeen's strengths is its studied detachment from these two monoliths who cannot see beyond the central belt. Aberdeen should however recover its civic pride and become a city with a renewed sense of its own identity. Sir Ian Wood is trying to show what is possible, as is Duncan Rice, the Principal at Aberdeen University, through the new library
Jock Willam
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Why should it even attempt to rival Glasgow or Edinburgh, We have to work for Aberdeen and to heck with any other city. Union Street in its heyday gave them both a run for their money. When did anyone last raise their eyes above shoulder level on Union Street, look at the architecture, look down Union Street to the Citadel, and stand on Union Bridge and look at a wasted opportunity.
Abbie Mann
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of course it should attempt to rival Glasgow and Edinburgh, it's the only possible way forwards for the city is to join the other cities in this country in becoming more culturally aware. Dundee is fast joining in and Aberdeen threatens to become a laughing stock. Mr Wood's plan will cost the city the same again, at least, as his "generous pledge" if the outcome of the feasibility study is in his favour whereas the Peacock project has only taken 3 million. The art centre would positively regenerate the gardens, bringing light to the dark areas people find foreboding and of course a centre of this type with such a beautiful gardens will obviously run projects which will use the space and encourage more people to visit and appreciate the gardens for the beauty. Do we really want to let this man bulldose the gardens and replace them with ANOTHER shopping centre and a museum to the oil industry. Glasgow and Edinburgh dont see beyond the central belt because there is nothing to look at, Aberdeen has to prove itself on a cultural level or face a complete crisis once the oil runs out.
Fraser Denholm
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I can hardly imagine people taking a three hour train journey to and from Edinburgh or Glasgow just to do some Christmas shopping. Search for the article titled "We're after your shoppers" which discusses the rivalry between Glasgow and Edinburgh. It would seem more probable that people are shopping online that going into town at night or during the weekends. The idea to build over Union Terrace Gardens was proposed around 20 years ago - they wanted to build a car park back then to bring in more revenue.
Michael Robb
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Nobody should doubt that the new arts centre would be an improvement on the status quo although whether or not it would usher in the transformational benefits suggested by Fraser Denholm is arguable. However, in the proposals from Sir Ian Wood there may be the real possibility of totally reorientating the city and giving it the iconic feature it currently lacks. Sadly, Marischal College no longer fills that role. It ill behoves people who have an interest in the Arts, however, to disdain the oil industry. Patronage is patronage and without benefactors from the Medici, through to Carnegie, Saatchi and, even Sir Ian Wood - although of course he is a mere Aberdonian who made his money in oil of all things - the 'Arts' would be confined to the AECC and a couple of cinemas. And by the way, he is not offering another shopping mall.
Jock Willam
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“Wakey Wakey Sir Ian, Wakey Wakey Aberdeen City Council – your 20 years too late!”. A question to both parties: why has it taken Peacock Visual Arts and Donald Trump to provide Aberdeen with a vision for a future after oil? Perhaps Sir Ian’s been too busy making billions to be concerned about giving something back to the people of Aberdeen…. Perhaps the councils been sleeping whilst the oil companies have come to Aberdeen and not invested back into the city centre. For a city of supposedly full of visionaries – its seems PVA and Donald Trump are the only 2.
Alisdair Morrison
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Perhaps Alasdair Sir Ian didnt have fifty million quid to donate 20 years ago.As for moving to a cultural level that will fill the gap when oil goes,pie in the sky.
Abbie Mann
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And perhaps Aberdeen doesn't have the 50 to 100million it is going to cost the city to realise this vision. If the idea of cultural regeneration once the oil runs out is pie in the sky, what is a square going to do? Aberdeen has many underused civic spaces as it is without another one. Cities like Glasgow and Liverpool, both with impressive undustrial heritages and have moved on to be respected centres of culture.
Fraser Denholm
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And perhaps Aberdeen doesn't have the 50 to 100million it is going to cost the city to realise this vision. If the idea of cultural regeneration once the oil runs out is pie in the sky, what is a square going to do? Aberdeen has many underused civic spaces as it is without another one. Cities like Glasgow and Liverpool, both with impressive undustrial heritages and have moved on to be respected centres of culture.
Fraser Denholm
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It is not clear why the creation of a public space at the heart of the city - the other spaces alluded to, do not occupy anything like a central position - is equated with cultural regeneration in the sense intended by Fraser Denholm with his reference to Glasgow and Liverpool as European Cities of Culture. It is more a matter of visual aesthetics and giving the city an iconic feature that can over time come to represent the city to the world. People live in Aberdeen but they do not seem to own it. Only down on the beach promenade at the weekend is there a tangible sense of Aberdonians enjoying their own city and expressing something distinctly 'Aberdonian'.
Jock Willam
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Who said its going to cost the city, if private funding is available it may cost the city very little.What is it with "culture" being rammed down our throats.how many ballet performances and bums on opera seats will pay my mortgage.Once oil goes there will be no well off bums to sit on "cultural" seats. Other cities have moved on and in doing so had to rebuild and regenerate, why is Aberdeen being denied the same.
Abbie Mann
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I think the definition of culture goes far, far wider than just ballet and opera. Aberdeen can regenerate and the Peacock Visual Arts Centre can be an important part of that regeneration. Given its location, it could become the driver for the development of a cultural quarter which could add greatly to Aberdeen's identity and offer wider economic diversity.
Ross Adamson
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