Scotland's most dismal town......

[tut]

We won an award, though you would think that they knew the difference between a Town and a City.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-n ... d-31095837

tut

[graeme]

A bit grim from some angles, but where isn't?

They chose their photos carefully too... that first one is a building marked for demolition anyway, and if you turn left and walk 50m you have one of the most beautiful buildings in the UK.



Harsh, although in today's weather, I'd probably agree.

EDIT: Pic's not mine, just nicked it off Google images. Credit to user "Northman" on http://www.canon-fodder-forums.com/

[Mikie711]

Beautiful picture Graeme, such apity Church of Scotland wouldn't let the council clean the Kirk though.

[campbell]

If there was no money to invest in the city in the oil hey-day, there presumably won't be now that oil is a paltry $50 a barrel.

City Council should be ashamed of themselves. Being overtaken by Dundee, FFS



I have fond memories of 5 yrs in Abz in mid 90s.

[graeme]

They're spending £100m+ on a really ugly shopping/hotel/office thing opposite that lovely building up there ^ which means you won't be able to stand back and admire at it any more.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-n ... d-29535021

No lack of £££, just being spent in all the wrong places. And the gardens not getting the go-ahead, that was a disgrace. Public voted yes, council overruled.

Still love it here though.

[martins]

Does that mean I now have to officially stop telling 'Scumdee' jokes...oh the shame of it......

Joking aside it is shocking that Aberdeen finds itself in the position it is in. IIRC, it was Australian money that funded Union Square with the council sorting out the parking and then trying to blame everyone else for the location of the development etc. It was the council who turned down the Union Terrce Gardens development for lord only knows what reason....but now that Dandara are building at Triple Kirks I could start a conspiracy theory....And then remind me what qualifications do you need to be a councilor.....absolutely none what-so-ever...And therein lies the problem. Why would someone with an education and a brain want to work for Aberdeen sh*t Council when they can work for an oil company.....perhaps now that the oil companies are shedding jobs someone with a spark of intelligence will take up the running of the council and we may see better times ahead with regard to the city as a whole......Asre about face but there you go.

Ironic really when you think about Dundee versus Aberdeen. Part of the reason the council did nothing when the oil came to the NE was that the oil majors kept threatening to go to Dundee if Aberdeen screwed them over. The oil majors then screwed the city over and there is no recourse. Rant over....feel better now....

M

[graeme]

Did somebody say bypass?

[Callummarshall]

Aberdoom, may look worse than scumdee, but you didn't hear of any riots in the tescos up here on Black friday. Dundee and Glasgow however...

[campbell]

That's because there's a few more pounds in the pockets in Aberdeen. *

When the oil price continues to slide surely the tables will turn. *



* - both sweeping generalisations and meant tongie-in-cheek, but it's interesting how swiftly the Dundee-Aberdeen comparisons have arisen, and how much of a potential switch in fortunes may in fact be developing. Isn't it...

[Callummarshall]

Interesting times are certainly ahead for Aberdeen. I've just had my overtime pinned back and all the trainee/entry level jobs I was looking at have dried up and disappeared.

[rossybee]

Not gonna bite with the Dundee comments as they are generally justified...

....but I'm very proud the way things are going at the waterfront, the only fly in the ointment being the V&A which has all the signs of becoming the next Scottish Parliament / Edi Trams....which is a huge shame.

The original topic is also a shame, no way such a wealthy city should have been allowed to deteriorate as it has. Union street really isn't easy on the eyes these days, I have been a regular visitor to Aberdeen for the last 25+ years, both through work and socially.

[renmure]

I have always been hard on my home city of Dundee. Moving to Edinburgh as an impressionable stoodent probably played a big part in that. However, Dundee really has a bit of a buzz around the city centre and if the waterfront development and everything associated with it goes to plan then I think the future is bright(er)

[Scottd]

...Ironic really when you think about Dundee versus Aberdeen. Part of the reason the council did nothing when the oil came to the NE was that the oil majors kept threatening to go to Dundee if Aberdeen screwed them over. The oil majors then screwed the city over and there is no recourse. Rant over....feel better now....

You're spot on! And both cities suffered because of it! Why didn't they unite and act as one and insist on sharing it!? I can guess why!