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Views sought on possible referendum questions

A series of possible questions which could be used for a referendum or opinion poll on the future of Union Terrace Gardens has been published for public consultation.

Views on the four potential options put forward for questions which may be used to determine how or if the City Garden Project should proceed are being sought by the local authority ahead of the Full Council meeting on 14 December.

The council is not asking the public to give a view on which question should be asked in any referendum, or to state their views on the City Garden Project. The consultation is seeking views on how clear, neutral and easy to understand each of the questions is.

Councillors will be asked to decide whether they wish to undertake a referendum or opinion poll to judge the level of public support for the project. They will also be presented with suggested wording for the question or questions which are to be included in any referendum or opinion poll, following the consultation with the public, the Friends of Union Terrace Gardens, and Aberdeen City Gardens Trust Ltd.

The four options for possible questions have been published on the Aberdeen City Council website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/gardensoptions

They are:

• Option 1: You are being asked to choose between either retaining Union Terrace Gardens or replacing them with the proposed City Garden Project Design. Which option do you support?

o a) Retaining Union Terrace Gardens

o b) Building the City Garden Project

• Option 2: You are being asked to choose between either retaining Union Terrace Gardens or replacing them with the proposed City Garden Project design which includes Union Terrace Gardens and involves covering the adjacent dual carriageway and railway line. Which option do you support?

o a) The proposed City Garden Project

o b) Retaining Union Terrace Gardens

• Option 3: You are being asked to choose between the City Garden Project going ahead or retaining Union Terrace Gardens. Which option do you support?

o a) The proposed City Garden Project

o b) Retaining Union Terrace Gardens

• Option 4: You are being asked to choose between either retaining Union Terrace Gardens or replacing them with the proposed City Garden Project design. Which option do you support?

o a) The proposed City Garden Project

o b) Retaining Union Terrace Gardens

The council wants the views of the public on a number of aspects on each question, including: is the question written in plain language; is the question written in neutral language, avoiding words that suggest a judgement or opinion; is the information contained in the question factual, describing the question and the options clearly and accurately; and does the question avoid assuming anything about voters’ views?

Responses to the consultation can be submitted by email or by post and should be returned by December 12.

Emailed responses should be sent to elections@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Written responses should be marked ‘Question Consultation’ and sent to: Office of Chief Executive, Aberdeen City Council, Old Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen,

AB10 1FY.

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