Ambitious plans for the beach take shape


Ambitious plans for the beach have taken a step forward. Some may say the plans are too ambitious, but it is refreshing to see our civic leaders encouraging vision and ambition.

I remember being fascinated when I first saw the book "Granite City - a plan for Aberdeen". Published in the early 1950s, among the forward-thinking plans were the new eastern and western by-passes, new civic squares and the inner ring road.

But one of the things that always fascinates is when I look at what the authors proposed for the beach. It was to have been an area that would have totally banished the rather run-down image the area has had since package holidays left it devoid of holidaymakers during the Glasgow Fair!

Now the council has taken a big step forward with plans that could see the beach area transformed. Among the plans are a light-rail link to the beach from the city centre, a sports centre of excellence, a new stadium for football, other sports and concerts, and events plaza at the end of the Beach Boulevard and an Energy Futures Centre which would showcase Aberdeen's role as the Energy Capital of Europe.

Ambitious? Yes! But that's what Aberdeen needs. For too long we have rested on our laurels - the oil capital has become complacent. We need to set goals like this and stretch ourselves a bit to achieve them.

Remember, Aberdeen was the scene of one of the engineering feats of the early 19th Century when far-sighted city fathers approved the plans to build a huge viaduct (Union Street) over the Denburn Valley to allow the city to expand in the west.

It is good to see ambitious visions for the future are once again on Aberdeen's agenda.

Posted: Fri - December 19, 2003 at 04:28 PM          

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