Council get it all wrong

With the train station debacle holding everyone’s attention, I almost missed the announcement that the giant void at the bottom of the town which initially promised shops, offices and restraunts with bistro style seating etc was now to become drum roll... a public park!? Is that the best we can do?

If there isn’t the millions required to build this new mall, couldn’t they have at least came up with something a little more inventive or useful?

After all, this was meant to be the project that kickstarted the regeneration of the bottom of the town.

If it needs to be a park, couldn’t it at least have some sort of canopy which would allow it to host events?

Events, bang in the middle of the town, such as a scaled down Flower Show, a regular market showcasing local producers?

What about a permanent stage of sorts, murals painted on the flanking walls, where music and arts events could be held, again, bang in the centre of town.

There has to be some kind of draw to get people back into the town, and a public park frequented by dossers and toe rags won’t do it.

Was it the same creative genius that came up with the idea of building an Olympic pool in the Arran Mall?

Who’s is this aimed at? What’s the attraction?

If there’s to be a pool wouldn’t it fare better if it boasted the latest flumes, like an indoor water park?

Why do the council always aim so low and still get it wrong when it comes to gauging what folk actually want, and the town most of all certainly needs!

Craig Johnstone