Union Street deep clean

A multimillion-pound deep clean of the northeast’s most iconic street is officially under way.

Part of the authority’s City Centre Masterplan, Aberdeen City Council bosses launched Operation Union Street Rejuvenation last September after it was awarded £1.17million by Historic Environment Scotland to make the Granite Mile sparkle once more.

The first phase of the ambitious regeneration plan, which includes sprucing up street fixtures like lampposts, benches and pavements, started last week and has already reinvigorated major parts of the north side of Union Street, between Holburn Street and Belmont Street.

This current part of the project is estimated to take up to four weeks, and the second stage, which will involve the

“A tremendous difference and show what can be achieved”

specialist cleaning, repairing and preservation of many of the area’s historic buildings, is expected to start this summer.

The scheme is being co-led by city centre business body Aberdeen Inspired, whose chief executive, Adrian Watson, said: “Operation Union Street Rejuvenation is essential to revitalise the thoroughfare.

“The deep cleans of Union Street are making a tremendous difference and show what can be achieved.”

However Alex Nicoll, the finance spokesman for the opposition SNP group at Aberdeen City Council, said more needed to be done to safeguard the future of the Granite Mile.

He added: “A deep clean of Union Street was long overdue, and whilst this is therefore welcome news, it’s hardly a ground-breaking development.”