David Briggs

Vision for Aberdeen City Centre

David Briggs - Robert Gordon University, AGCC Council Member

Aberdeen has a particular geographic location and characteristics:

• northern hemisphere
• far north western Europe
• north sea coast
• small City big hinterland
• generally a safe place to be
• cool and ‘dryish’ climate

But it also has a strong international flavour primarily as a result of   the north-east’s ‘outward looking’ traditions,  movement of international staff engaged in the oil and gas industry; and  a large multi-national/cultural student population. To be a vibrant City Centre it must therefore reflect these characteristics by being:

• inviting – ‘telling you to come here and come in’.
• 24/7 (ish) in nature, whatever the weather.
• safe and secure.
• a ‘summer and winter’ place to be, so able to ‘change its being’.
• ‘bright, clean and diverse’ in character.
• able to provide a diverse range of services, facilities and entertainments.
• efficient in means of moving about on foot and by transport.

My vision is therefore a City that has a plan for how this will be achieved within 10 years – anything more and no-one will believe it.

I see a bright and clean Union Street – well-lit and well-kept – that is a pleasure to be in, even on the windiest and wettest days. It should be traffic-free for the most part with free small  trolleybus (definitely not trams!) type transport running up and down the Centre, and covered over for all-weather pedestrian traffic alongside and into/out of the main shopping and eating hubs. Yes, of course it’s possible.

I see shops on Union Street that have a consistent style to their frontage and advertising rather than the horrible mess we have now. I see the property above developed for low cost residential use again, bringing population back into the City. Yes, of course it’s possible.

I see energy-efficient heated areas for outdoor cafes in summer and winter. Yes of course it’s possible.

I see pedestrian routes, clustered around shopping/eating hubs and trolleybus stops, lined with continental  mini-shops and market stalls, much like the 24/7 underground pedestrian walkways in parts of eastern Europe, that are an extension of the shopping and entertainment experience into the evening and not just dark walkways that we want to run through. Yes, it can be done.

I see the east end ‘old square’ - Castlegate – upgraded in traditional style and offering low-cost market-style and café/restaurant/civil use facilities all the year round.

I see safe, well-lit and attractive links to retail Centres off Union Street, such as Union Square, not uninviting, dimly-lit, narrow streets and passages.

I see shops open until maybe 9pm providing additional lighting onto the streets and making shopping and entertainment an extended 6/7 day experience.

I see Union Terrace Gardens as the ‘glue’ or ‘hub’ but with characteristics that reflect all of the above, and I am afraid this does mean raising part of it. But who says there can’t be two distinct and separate levels (not necessarily one over the other)? A lower level could be part of the all-weather underground extended retail and culture experience and the upper part a green and pleasant land.

I see a strict code of behaviour, but with fun allowed. It can be done.

 

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