... that's how Scotland on Sunday feature writer, Peter Ross described Union Terrace Gardens in his excellent article this past weekend.
And yes, the fight goes on!! Pop icon, Annie Lennox, former pupil of Aberdeen's Harlaw Academy waded into the row this week and criticised the insanity of allowing her home town's historic heart to be ripped out. Donald-Trump-aping local tycoon, Ian Wood hit back, saying she didn't know anything about architecture. A case of the pot calling the kettle black! Ian Wood knows about fishing boats and engineering, but not how to design a building sympathetic to a Victorian public garden!
A gorgeous view of the HMT from UTG - by Donnie Ross, courtesy of the 'Hidden Aberdeen' photo group
ACSEF (Aberdeen City & Shire Economic Futures), Wood's cronies in the affair have thrown money and spin at their 'City Square' project in the face of growing anger and distrust from Aberdeen's citizens who have been writing every day to the Press & Journal to complain. The I Heart UTG campaigners, headed by Gray's Art School grads, Katie Guthrie and Fraser Denholm have been pushing hard to get the truth out to the city, including putting on fund-raising concerts with local bands, getting leaflets printed, making badges, and even having Katie's heart design STOLEN by a supporter for the 'other side'. Katie and Fraser's greatest publicity ploy happened during the recent snow, when they spread three huge banners across the beautiful snowy canvas of the gardens, expressing the plea of the very ground itself 'SAVE ME'!
Architecture Journals, national press, TV, all have had their say, the Central Belt press all at a loss as to why on earth Aberdonians would allow their historic green space to be concreted over - an idea which has been floating around since the 1960s.
But now, time is short - ACSEF's consultation has a mere three weeks to run. The future of Peacock Visual Art's new Northern Light arts centre still looks uncertain, with the funding likely to be pulled in March also. So there's no excuse now. My other pet project, the Aberdeen Urban Studies Centre has lost its fight, axed by the council's swingeing budget cuts, but Peacock does have a chance! This majestic bird flickers its iridescent tail in order to challenge its enemies as well as win mates, and WILL prevail. It would be unthinkable to allow the bankruptcy of an organisation which has done so much for the community, merely because of one man's desire to buy immortality.
If the worst were to happen, it means that no plan passed by the council is safe - Peacock Visual Arts already HAD PLANNING PERMISSION PASSED!!! Yet apparently, any megalomaniac can come along and flash his wad like Harry Enfield's Yuppie generation character Loadsamoney and demand his plan be installed instead, despite the fact the city DON'T WANT IT!!
Down in the gardens, surrounded by fabulous architecture, picture by Donnie Ross, courtesy of the 'Hidden Aberdeen' photo group
So, to reiterate the plea of the Peacock and I Heart UTG, here's what you can do if you haven't acted already:
PHONE 0800 111 4881 and vote NO
TEXT 60777, followed by 'square' and tell the enemy your 'thoughts' (keep it clean!)
EMAIL consultation@thecitysquareproject.com and also express heartfelt opinions
SNAIL MAIL The City Square Project, Weber Shandwick PR, 58 Queens Road, Aberdeen AB15 4YE.
OR - go to the consultation website and fill in the survey, voting NO to the 'City Square' - http://www.thecitysquareproject.com/consultation/
AND of course, SIGN THE PETITION to save the new arts centre!!!! http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-new-contemporary-art-centre-in-union-terrace-gardens.html/
My tribute Hearts!
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