Are they taking the Euryth-mick? Annie Lennox image used to push project she opposes

But when promoters decided to use a photograph of the Granite City's own pop diva, Annie Lennox, in their marketing material they hadn't reckoned on the singer emerging as one of their most vocal opponents.

Now the glossy brochure being used to promote the 140 million development is to be withdrawn after the ex-Eurythmics singer made it clear she had not given permission for it to be used.

The pop legend last week blasted plans to create the new street-level square above the historic Union Terrace Gardens as "idiocy and madness" and an act of architectural vandalism.

And the use of her image in the promotional brochure yesterday prompted the pop star to go back on the offensive.

"I had absolutely no idea that the City Square Project were using photographs of me in their brochure," she said in her blog. "A little bit ironic – obviously. They clearly 'assumed' it would be fine by me as it makes it look as if I'm endorsing their vision when I wasn't even asked. They just went ahead in any case."

Lennox, who left Aberdeen at 17 to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, which she quit to find fame with the Tourists and Eurythmics, said:

"I am only one voice, but perhaps my comments have helped to level up the debate, and take it out to the people. There are just four weeks before a decision, and I would urge that everyone becomes proactive if they want to save Union Terrace Gardens."

The plans are being proposed as an alternative to those of Aberdeen-based Peacock Visual Arts, which has planning approval for a contemporary arts centre at the Rosemount Viaduct end of Union Terrace Gardens.

The concept of creating a civic square above Union Terrace Gardens was first championed by oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood.

Head of Aberdeen-based oil services firm Wood Group, he has pledged 50m of his personal fortune towards the scheme, which is being developed by the Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef) economic forum.

Katie Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the campaign opposing the civic square scheme, said the use of a photo of Lennox was a major gaffe: "Acsef has wasted an awful lot of money already on this project and to have produced this expensive booklet without asking Annie Lennox what her stance was is incredible."

Acsef yesterday confirmed that the brochure was now being replaced by a new information leaflet. But a spokeswoman defended the use of the image.

She said: "The initial public consultation brochures contained publicly available images that illustrate the type of activities that Acsef see happening in the City Square. To show the fact that the new civic space and gardens could attract major outdoor and indoor concerts, we used a photo of Ms Lennox rather than another artist, as she is Aberdonian.

"Her picture in the brochure does not in any way suggest that she supports the project."