An Aberdeenshire streetscene project has come under criticism for using granite imported from India – despite the material being available locally.
The Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership – consisting of the council, Scottish Grampian Enterprise and regeneration agency Communities Scotland – sourced the granite for new footway markers to pinpoint historic buildings in the coastal town of Banff.
The Press and Journal – with offices in Aberdeen, known as the granite city – reported that ‘northeast granite had lost out to foreign competitors’.
The partnership told the newspaper that it was found to be around 50% cheaper than local material.