International music star Annie Lennox has branded plans for a civic square in Aberdeen city centre as "idiocy" and "madness".

On Monday the ex-Eurythmics singer, who was born in the city, threw her weight behind alternative plans to build a contemporary arts centre in Union Terrace Gardens.

The plans by Peacock Visual Arts were thrown into doubt after a rival £140million civic square project was put forward by Sir Ian Wood.

Speaking in a post left on her MySpace website – Lennox criticised the “idiocy” and “madness” of plans to build over the gardens.

She wrote: “Aberdeen was my home town. I was born there, and lived in the city until I was 17. For me, Union Terrace Gardens was, and still is the green historical heart of the city. 

“Like so many towns and cities all over the country, Aberdeen lost a great deal of its architectural heritage and charm through destruction by bulldozer and concrete. It made me sad then, and it still makes me sad.

“I hoped that this kind of “vandalism” had peaked in the 60s and 70s, but for Aberdeen, it seems to be back with vengeance. What idiocy and madness.

“…to the citizens of Aberdeen I would say this...‘Aberdeen is your home town. Are you going to sit back, and do nothing while it’s beautiful historic centre gets ripped out and concreted over??!!’

“It’s down to you to stop this happening.”

The singer’s comments come on the day it was announced that representatives of both bids are due to attend a joint meeting later in the month.

Aberdeen North MP Frank Doran said the debate was running the risk of becoming “polarised” and wants an open discussion about the future of the area.

The Sir Ian Wood-backed plan for a five-acre city square connecting Union Street, Union Terrace, Schoolhill and Belmont Street is currently the subject of a public consultation led by Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef).

Tom Smith, chairman of Acsef, said: “We strongly refute Mr Doran’s claims that city-centre residents have not been given the opportunity to make their views known.

“The awareness of the public consultation is extremely high and people are being given every opportunity to participate.

“It is important that such a meeting as Mr Doran proposes allows local residents the opportunity to get the facts and put forward their views so that we can have a useful meeting which respects all points of view.”

Peacock campaign director Elly Rothnie said: “We welcome this opportunity, as we share Mr Doran’s concerns that this has become a polarised debate.

“We have been very concerned about the lack of information about alternative options in this consultation.

“This is a great opportunity for the people of Aberdeen to hear about the various different options open to the city, as well as asking important opinions on compromise. We at Peacock are very much looking forward to hearing from the people on this occasion.”