An Aberdeen councillor has slammed a move to plant wildflowers in a “pristine” city centre garden because he believes they look like “a bed of weeds” and an “eyesore”.
The small fenced-off area behind the Wallace statue opposite His Majesty’s Theatre, known as the pocket park, has long been host to beautiful floral displays every summer.
It is a also a popular spot for proud parents to take pictures after their children’s graduation ceremonies.
But Rosemount councillor Bill Cormie has received numerous complaints from constituents about the current state of the gardens.
The city council is currently in the process of growing wildflowers at the site, but Mr Cormie said the site was “not the right place”.
He added: “That pocket park is probably the floral highlight of the city centre.
“In the springtime, it lay empty, where it’s usually full of polyanthus and tulips, but I was reassured it would be full of begonias and the hanging baskets would be put back in for the summer again.
“But several folk have come to me saying there’s an absolute eyesore of weeds down there and, having gone down there myself to see it, the whole place is a tip.
“It’s gone from a pristine floral display to a bed of weeds.”
“I’m told these weeds are supposed to be wild flowers, but even if they are, the city centre is not the right place for them.
“We’ve got the graduations next week, and generations of folk have had their photographs taken in the park, but there is no way people will enter that mess to get their photo taken.”
Councillor Neil Cooney, convener of communities, housing and infrastructure committee, responded: “This area has been sown with wildflower seed which should flower over the next two to three weeks.
“Wildflower meadows are seen as being a way to enhance city centres and urban areas.
“This type of planting is also being done in many towns and cities throughout the UK to improve bio-diversity.
“We continue to invest in our award-winning parks and open spaces, adding to the culture and environment in this city.
“This is why Aberdeen was the only city in Scotland to have been selected as a UK finalist in the prestigious 2016 Britain in Bloom competition.”