Aberdeen garden rival plan chief loses job

The woman heading the bid to build a visual arts centre in Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens has lost her job.

Elly Rothnie - who was hired to see through the £13m project for Peacock Visual Arts - has been made redundant.

The move follows the city council's decision to back Sir Ian Wood's alternative plans for a civic square on the site.

Peacock's director Lindsay Gordon said the organisation now faced an uncertain future.

Mr Gordon has also confirmed that Peacock will not be involved in the city square plan.

Councillors in the city voted to back the city square scheme, which involves a £50m donation from the oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood and a £5m donation from an anonymous businessman.

The decision follows a public consultation in which 55% of respondents said they did not want the new square.