Christmas Village move ‘detrimental’

SIR, – The decision by the current administration to move the Christmas Village from Union Terrace to Broad Street shows that they have been “hoist by their own petard”.

From what I can see, it won’t be any more appealing than last year’s tawdry affair. The situation is made worse by the fact that Union Terrace can no longer be used in the future as it will be required for traffic once Broad Street is finally pedestrianised. Unhappily, apart from the Castlegate and Belmont Street there is little or no alternative.

There were alternatives however for a dedicated civic square. First of all there was UTG and then there was the former site of St Nicholas House but on both occasions the then administration went against public opinion and discarded both options out of hand.

Furthermore, the nature and aspect of the Christmas Village at this location is also unfortunate because it is detrimental to both the magnificent frontage of Marischal College and the Muse development, this administration’s icon of city centre regeneration. We are now therefore dependent on a road closure to showcase the city’s Christmas festivities.

No matter how often Marie Boulton, culture chief, whistles against the wind, her solution to Christmas will certainly not result in either a Berlin, Hamburg, Edinburgh or indeed a Dundee. It is clear that once again the city has been let down by the usual suspects and their total lack of forward thinking.

It is said that we get the politicians we deserve. Amen to that.

George S Morrison, Overton Circle, Dyce, Aberdeen