Community groups, residents vow to fight back
By Leigh Wilson
courtesy of Friends of Saint Fittick's Park
Community groups campaigning against the proposed development of St Fittick’s Park and Doonies’ Farm, in the south of Aberdeen, have faced a major setback after the Scottish Government Reporter’s decision to permit the industrialisation of the site.
The proposed creation of the Energy Transition Zone, which includes both green spaces, has attracted significant criticism from residents of the area, with over 200 objections being filed during the consultation phase.
One Torry resident, wishing to remain anonymous, said, “This is devastating; to lose this area of wild and natural habitat feels so out of touch with what is going on in the world right now. Young people especially are really concerned with the destruction of human beings and what this means for the natural world. This was an opportunity to save and protect one small area of green space, and they have put profit over saving it for future generations – it’s awful.”
“This is devastating; to lose this area of wild and natural habitat feels so out of touch with what is going on in the world right now..."
Richard Caie, spokesperson for the Friends of St. Fittick’s Park Group, said: ‘The Friends of St. Fittick’s Park and many people in Torry will feel deeply disappointed, physically sick, angry and let down (yet again) by our local politicians and a planning system that works for the interests of large oil and gas industry greenwashing and private profits, rather than ordinary people. We lost old Torry in the 70s to make way for the oil industry. Today history is happening all over again; the injustice this community has experienced over the past 50 years continues.’
'Today history is happening all over again; the injustice this community has experienced over the past 50 years continues.'
Scott Herret, another group member, said: “In the days, weeks, months and years to come, the Friends of St Fittick’s will be working to strengthen our campaign, diversifying our tactics and calling on the support of our numerous allies across Scotland and the world to fight any future planning decision that comes our way”.
However, despite the deep disappointment felt by some about the inclusion of the zoning changes in the plan, a closer examination of the Reporter’s conclusions and recommendations reveal that a number of practical restraints and protections will tie any subsequent development to significant planning constraints. The community groups, for their part, vow to continue the campaign.
