International pop star Annie Lennox has re-entered the row over the future of Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens.

The Aberdeen-born singer has written to Aberdeen City Council urging them to reject Sir Ian Wood’s plan to develop the gardens into a civic square.

In the letter - which is posted on the musician's website - Lennox said to continue with the project, which was rejected in a public consultation, would be “an act of civic vandalism and abandonment of democracy”.

Sir Ian Wood pledged £50million towards the £140million City Square Project that would see the gardens raised to street level.

The Acsef-backed scheme has thrown plans by Peacock Visual Arts to build an arts centre in the gardens into jeopardy. Peacock already had planning permission and 75% of the funding for the development in place prior to Sir Ian’s vision being unveiled.

Around 14,000 people contributed to a public consultation into the City Square Project – which saw 55% of participants rejecting the plans.

The proposals are due to go before councillors next week.

In her letter, Lennox wrote: “I urge you then to listen to your electorate and reject plans to take the unpopular City Square project any further.”

BACKGROUND

• Public reject oil tycoon's garden vision
• Aberdeen gardens public consultation launched
• Heated meeting held over Aberdeen gardens' future

She added that the money could be better spent in regenerating other areas of the city and also condemned the green credentials of the scheme.

She wrote: “In the 21^st century there can be no environmental case for using hundreds of tons of toxic concrete to fill in a mature green space.”

The proposals are due to go before councillors on May 19.