Community

For the past sixteen days volunteers from the Friends of Union Terrace Gardens have been leafleting outside the City Gardens Project exhibition in Aberdeen and I've spent twelve of my lunch hours on the street helping the effort.

Grass roots community groups may not have the big money or the press access that developers have but money cant buy the community spirit that sees folk from their teens to their seventies turn out come rain, come shine, come wind, come wild for the sake of a place they love dearly.

We tried to let people know that all "options" on show inside involved transferring the public park - which lies on Common Good land - into private control and adding £70 Million to the city's debt mountain, all for the sake of a vanity project. We argued that there is an affordable option that the developers don't want to consider - if the council cant run this park, let a community group have a go. The years of neglect can be rectified, the historic features restored and modern ramp access can be added without the need to relinquish public control of the park or to spend so much money (that the city doesn't have anyway).

Among other things I've personally been called a luddite, an artist (in a way that implied it was something bad), a soothsayer (don't quite get this one) and even once "a fine loon" (which is a compliment in Aberdeen).

To those who stood on the street, I salute you.
To those who took the time to take one of our leaflets and talk, I thank you.

This is my favourite placard from today.