Apathy towards gardens scheme
SIR, – Friday’s front page appeal by Sir Ian Wood was perfectly accurate in asserting how Aberdeen’s public apathy was affecting his promotion of the £140million Union Terrace Gardens scheme. The reason for this is obvious, and was initiated back in February with the release of the “artist’s impression” of a square larger than those in Moscow and China.
The subsequent threat of a withdrawal of the financial incentive unless that particular solution was supported may have been misleading, as Ascef have confirmed that they would welcome an international competition for the development of the site.
The inevitable compromise should be initiated by Aberdeen City Council taking the lead and producing a “brief” for the competition, the results of which should be judged under the auspices of the Royal Institute of Architects of Scotland.
The stated aim of a non-retail cultural occupancy of the site is admirable and can be achieved, whilst still retaining part of the gardens. Peacock Visual Arts deserve to be at the heart of any rejuvenation of the gardens and should welcome a more prominent position, perhaps directly off a smaller square linked to Union Street looking into the gardens.
Malcolm S.Webster,
Loirsbank Road, Cults,
Aberdeen.
SIR, – Following Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future’s (Acsef) trumpeting of Sir Alex Ferguson’s enthusiasm for the Union Terrace Gardens project, we have not been told if Sir Alex bumped into Annie Lennox while taking a stroll during their last visit to the gardens.
Your correspondent A.J. Eddie (Letters, March 5) is right – we must get our priorities right. On our frequent visits to what is a beautiful city, my wife and I continue to be disheartened with the way Union Street has been allowed to lose much of its identity.
Surely to radically develop Union Terrace Gardens due to the promise of a major (but welcome) injection of cash from Sir Ian Wood without also addressing the sad decline of Union Street would be wrong.
We must not be rushed to judgment on this major project on the basis of the nebulous information which has been presented to us.
On visiting the exhibition recently we were informed that only sketch layouts for the Acsef scheme were available and that no information was yet available on traffic management or whether or not Union Bridge would be pedestrianised. One can be sure Sir Ian didn’t get to where he is by making decisions on the basis of such flimsy information as is available with these proposals.
Richard G. Moffat, Knox House, Tough, near Alford.
SIR, – Sir Ian Wood’s surprise at the apathy shown by the public of Aberdeen for the city square project shows how out of touch he is with the concerns of working local residents.
Most people are still worried about job security, lack of dentists, schools, what the next cut by the incompetent council will be (no cuts to their £60million office complex of course) and the state of our car-destroying roads.
The last thing people are worried about is what happens to Union Terrace Gardens. If Sir Ian is that keen to find the best use for £50million, he could help the jobless, some of whom may even have been created by Wood Group companies paying off staff during hard times.
Companies looking to invest in Aberdeen will do so for financial reasons, not for what is in the gardens.
James Officer,
Cairnfold Road,
Bridge of Don.
SIR, – I see that the Germans have suggested that the Greeks should sell their islands in order to stave off bankruptcy.
This set me thinking about the financial problems of Highland Council. Why not sell Skye?
At a stroke we should solve all our infrastructure problems and at the same time save the huge outgoings that result from spending on Gaelic.
These are great possibilities for a little lateral thinking. Here in Dornoch we might get our sports hall at long last and finish widening the road to Embo.
Duncan Allan,
Castle Street,
Dornoch.
Iraq inquiry ‘whitewash’
SIR, – I am convinced that if the Chilcot inquiry had asked Prime Minister Gordon Brown his name, the session would have run for another hour.
Such were the anodyne responses to the questions put to him by a team of pathetic inquisitors. What other result could observers expect?
After all, it was Mr Brown who picked this team and our money who will for pay them. The performance by Mr Brown indicated to me that he is, indeed, a verbal bully. The more telling questions put to him by Sir Roderic Lyne were smothered in an avalanche of tangential references elsewhere and to the noticeable frustration of Sir Roderic.
Much of the PMs bluster would have been guillotined by one competent legal member in the inquiry but none had been appointed.
It is obvious that the whole charade has been choreographed by the spin doctors in Downing Street with an ensuing “whitewash” predictable.
My sincere thoughts go to all those unnecessary victims of the carnage in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It has not been the bombs and the bullets that have wrought such havoc with the lives of millions but the lexicon of politicians, honed, manipulated and exercised by Blair, Brown et al with fatal consequences for the innocent.
George Paterson,
Loch Way, Kemnay.
SIR, – I do not approve of the city losing Union Terrace Gardens, but if it does, what is going to happen to the old Bow Brig?
The Bow Brig was built in 1747 over the Denburn and linked Windmill Brae to the Green. It was part of the main route into the city prior to the construction of Union Street and Union Bridge.
The brig was removed in 1851 when the Denburn was put into culvert, and was later inserted into the top terrace of the gardens. It is at present holding up part of the Union Terrace roadway.
Obviously someone in the past thought that it was worthy enough for preservation, and I wonder if anyone thinks the same today.
Darwin Moir, Dubford Park, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.