Looking to Gothenburg

SIR, – At last, Aberdeen City Council has accepted the fact that they lack vision and are therefore looking to Sweden to compensate for their shortcomings (the Press and Journal, November 10).

Your story stated that, in Gothenburg, they have looked to “the people of the city, the local council, private industry and representatives from the academic world" to revitalise their city.

In Aberdeen to date, the people have been totally ignored, as have the academics, with projects being driven forward by the council based purely on capital receipts.

What happened to the pride shown by our Victorian and Edwardian visionaries who gave us significant buildings and infrastructure and created the Granite City?

What are their modern-day equivalents doing, ripping out marble staircases, rosebeds and seeking to hide our best buildings behind concrete and glass monstrosities?

Recently, I visited Duthie Park on a rather dull day and the winter gardens provided a welcome oasis, with a brass band playing and people enjoying some respite from the weather.

If the council really does want to make a lasting impact and create something of local pride and national importance, then why not create an Eden Project-type structure over the whole of Union Terrace Gardens to enable us to escape the worst of the winter weather, extend our better seasons and provide a green space to be enjoyed by all?

Come on, it's not rocket science. Just do it. Gordon Daniels, Bourtie, Inverurie.