First Minister is not interested in Aberdon objectors, says Macdonald

01 July 2010

Aberdeen Central Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald has said that local people have been badly let down by the refusal of First Minister Alex Salmond to intervene in the court action over proposals to put a homeless hostel in Aberdon House, in a sheltered housing complex in Tillydrone.

In responding to Lewis Macdonald at First Minister's Questions, Alex Salmond refused to intervene in the case, or to urge the Leader and Deputy Leader of Aberdeen City Council to drop their court action against objectors to their plans.

The First Minister said it was "a matter for the Leader of the Council to address."

Mr Macdonald, speaking after children as young as 8 were cited to appear in court, said:

“Once again, Alex Salmond has failed to answer a question in the Chamber and failed to stand up for the people of Aberdeen.

"Time and time again he leaves the people of Aberdeen in the lurch.

"The objectors exercised their democratic right to object to the council’s ill thought out proposals.

"For children and old folk now to be taken to court is simply farcical.

"The First Minister is not interested in listening to the concerns of my constituents, and he has let them down badly.

“It is time Alex Salmond began answering questions put to him on serious matters such as this, and time he recognised that he cannot wash his hands of what his own party is doing in running local councils like Aberdeen.”