CLIMATE activists who occupied an Aberdeen park to protest against plans to build an “energy transition zone” warned today that they will return again if the plan goes ahead.

Last Thursday, activists set up camp in St Fittick’s Park for a five-day occupation. 

A third of the park, which is the remaining green space in Torry, one of Aberdeen’s most deprived areas, is due to be used for the zone.

Billionaire oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood is chairman of the ETZ board, which is putting forward plans to support renewable energy production at the south harbour, with a focus on carbon capture and hydrogen technology.

The board includes representatives from Shell, the North Sea Transition Authority and Scottish Enterprise.

Climate campaigners have called the ETZ a form of greenwashing that it is reliant on unproven technology.

They threatened to return to the camp if the scheme is approved following a judicial review at the end of the month.

Marlow Bushman, a local Torry resident and member of the Aberdeen Climate Coalition, said: “The fossil fuel industry has been trying to set a precedent for how it can treat the people of Torry, polluting our air and paving over our parks.

“This time, with the cheap veneer of greenwashing.”

Rosie, a climate activist from the Highlands, said: “The camp this year has been a great success, but if the so-called ‘Energy Transition Zone’ goes ahead, we will be back.

“We will stand with the people of Torry against the destruction of their park.”

An ETZ spokesperson said they were “committed to enhancing wider green spaces in proximity of the energy transition zone in co-design and collaboration with the local community.”