Opposition councillors in Aberdeenshire have criticised yesterday’s decision to financially support a bid to bring the World Rally Championships to the North-east.
Aberdeenshire Council has agreed to be part of a joint bid to potentially host a round of the World Rally Championship and at a meeting of the Full Council yesterday, Conservative, Lib Dem and Independent councillors gave support to the plan to submit a formal bid to hold the rally over 2027-2029.
The main opposition SNP and Democratic Independent Group, whilst supportive of the rally coming to the North-east, contended that the financial contribution would be better spent on supporting council services in light of recent budget cuts.
Cllr Gwyneth Petrie (SNP-Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford) proposed supporting the event with no financial contribution from Aberdeenshire Council and was seconded in this by Cllr Stephen Smith (SNP-Peterhead South and Cruden).
Commenting, Cllr Gwyneth Petrie said:
“While I support those involved in the bid to bring the World Rally Championships to the North-east, I don’t believe council tax-payers would, if asked, be too happy at public money being used to support what is essentially a big business.
“For sure there would be some economic spin-offs from it, but Aberdeenshire Council has just gone through a bruising year of cuts to vital local services. If the money to support this event can be found, then it should be used to restore services which have been cut – or save services which are under threat in next year’s budget.”
Cllr Stephen Smith added:
“In normal times, I think we would all welcome high-profile events such as this coming to the North-east and would be prepared to support them financially to get them over the line.
“However, ‘normal times’ have not been with us for several years and council budgets have been under increasing pressure. I am not going to support public money being spent on bringing rally cars to the North-east when Aberdeenshire Council is telling communities it cannot afford adult day services, sheltered housing, public libraries or grit boxes.
“The council should be concentrating on the basics, not the ‘nice-to-have’s’.”
