A public consultation into oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood’s proposals Aberdeen’s city centre gardens has come out against the project.

More than 14,000 people took part in a questionnaire into plans to turn Union Terrace Gardens into a civic square.

Fifty five per cent of respondents were against the idea, with 44% in favour.

The Sir Ian-backed City Square Project would see the gardens raised to street level, covering the Denburn dual carriageway to create a new civic heart for the city.

Sir Ian has pledged £50million towards the estimated £140million project which has split opinion in the north-east.

The emergence of the proposals cast doubt over Peacock Visual Arts’ existing plans to build a contemporary arts centre in the gardens. Seventy-five per cent of the £13.5million for the project had been raised and planning permission had been approved.

In a statement Sir Ian said he would withdraw his offer of £50million unless Aberdeen City Council backed the project at a meeting next month.

He said: “I’m obviously disappointed, but, with all the misinformation, not surprised at the failure to register majority approval for the transformational city centre proposal from those who have participated.

“I am now less than hopeful this project can go ahead but I understand that Aberdeen City Council, who are the major constitutional, legal and civic stakeholder, will, as part of their City Centre Development Framework, formally consider and take a view on the project at their Council meeting on 19 May.  

“However, unless Aberdeen City Council at that meeting decide that the project should proceed with their backing, and that they will step in and take a key leadership role along with ACSEF, my financial offer will be withdrawn.”

BACKGROUND

• Heated meeting held over gardens' future
• Businessman hits out at Aberdeen garden plans
• Annie Lennox blasts civic square concept
• City garden regeneration plans revealed

Peacock Visual Arts welcomed the results of the consultation.

In a statement a spokesperson said: "We are delighted to see that all of the major elements that people want to see - greater accessibility, green space and cultural facilities - will be delivered in Peacock's existing plans for Union Terrace Gardens at a fraction of the cost to the public purse and the environment.

"Given that on these figures 55% of those voting said they did not want the City Square, and the fact that people's desires will be met in the Peacock plans we hope that the go ahead will now be given for the creation for Peacock's major new cultural centre which will regenerate the existing Gardens and give the people of Aberdeen what they have asked for.

Economic development body Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF), who backed Sir Ian's proposals, said the consultation highlighted that there is support for changing the gardens and are urging Aberdeen City Council to take a lead on the project.

"It's highly unlikely we will ever again be in a position to secure £70m of private sector investment for a civic project," said Tom Smith, ACSEF chairman.

"This money is not available for other projects or piece-meal developments. Sir Ian's donation will attract a further £20m of private sector investment which in turn gives us a very real possibility of securing a further £70m public sector funding.

"Rejection of this £140m investment will damage Aberdeen City's reputation. We will be known as the city which turned down a £50m private sector donation towards an ambitious and much needed public infrastructure development at a time when other cities throughout the UK would have grasped it with open arms."

Chief Executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce Bob Collier called for the project team to move on to the ‘next stage of an international competition’.