The disappearance of granite steps during a £28million refurbishment of Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens was referred to the police by the City Council.
The steps were supposed to be reinstated in the Victorian gardens using the original material. But the granite went missing late one Friday afternoon.
On-the-ball journalists from the local Evening Express newspaper traced the 50-or-so huge granite stones and one of the park’s distinctive lamp-posts to land owned by prominent city businessman Mike Wilson, who owns a number of city centre bars and clubs as well as a once famous pub and more recently a Thai restaurant, the Monkey House, overlooking the gardens.
Once the steps had been tracked down by the journalists about a fortnight after they had been removed, Aberdeen City Council said: “The council’s own investigation, including an audit into all granite from Union Terrace Gardens, is underway. In addition, we have referred the matter to Police Scotland for their consideration.”
Police Scotland confirm: “Officers are carrying out inquiries following contact from Aberdeen City Council regarding the removal of granite from a site on Union Terrace.”
Planning permission for the work stipulated that original granite from the site had to be re-used there.
The main contractors for the refurbishment of the park are Balfour Beatty. They say in a statement: “We are currently in discussions with one of our sub-contractors to understand the reason for the materials being stored at an unapproved location.
“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience or concern caused and can confirm that the granite will be relocated to a secure and appropriate site as soon as possible.
“In the meantime, we continue to assist Police Scotland and Aberdeen City Council with their investigations.”
The Evening Express contacted a sub-contractor, Graeme Cheyne, who admitted leaving the stone on Mike Wilson’s land, explaining that he had done so because he had no room at his yard.
The paper quotes him as saying: “I didn’t even ask Mike if I could store it there. I just knew there was a bit of spare land there doing nothing. At 4.30pm on a Friday, things are closing in on you and you are in a race against time. I thought I would get it off the lorry, put it there and deal with the consequences later.”
The newspaper also contacted Mike Wilson, who said: “I had no desire for it to be on my land, I don’t have any use for it – short of building a helipad.”
When the BBC contacted Mike Wilson he said he did not know the granite was being delivered to his property and was not paid to store it.
He said: “I have no prior knowledge of it. They are not my blocks and I have no use for them. It’s of no interest to me.
“I just came back one Friday night and they were there in the front garden, now half of them have gone – 50% of them remain and 50% of them have gone. I’m not to know where they came from.”
Union Terrace Gardens are being regenerated to conserve the Victorian park’s heritage while enhancing its role as the city’s green heart and making it more accessible. Consultancy LDA Design developed the project from a masterplan using additional feedback from a public engagement exercise.
Following investigations, the police later concluded there was no criminal activity involved in the removal of the steps.