Scott Begbie: We must talk about future for Our Union Street

Finally, there might be a cure in sight for an affliction that is peculiar to the people of Aberdeen.

You know the one, that involuntary tic where folk step onto Union Street, tut, shake their head and mutter “would you look at the state of this… what a damn shame”.

They can’t help themselves and, yes, they have a point. The Granite Mile is a sorry-looking place these days, no one can deny that as they survey vape shops and empty units.

And there should be civic pride and a sense that Union Street needs and deserves a brighter future than just languishing in this decrepit disarray.

However, with that must come a will and a determination to do something about it, not just moan and point the finger at the powers-that-be for not doing enough.

Granite Mile deserves a brighter future

Union Street is a problem but it’s everyone’s problem. Even for folk, like me, who live outside the city but see Aberdeen as the place where they work and play.

If we want to make it better, we have to be part of the solution, not just shrug and say it’s up to someone else to fix.

So, let’s give a warm welcome to the arrival of Our Union Street – the new body that stands a fighting chance of being a force for good in breathing new life into our most important street.

Typical of Aberdeen that the arrival of this new drive to save the heart of the city was met with the usual weary chorus of disapproval from the social media keyboard warriors.

“Waste of time and money” apparently… no doubt mouthed by the same motley crew screaming about the state of the street.

Give warm welcome to Our Union Street

So the first thing we need to do to fix Union Street is politely ask the Abermoaners to wheesht, then ignore them when they don’t – because they won’t, as being miserable is the only pleasure they have in life.

Business chief Bob Keiller will head up Our Union Street a new organisation aimed at breathing new life into the Granite Mile. Image: Supplied by AGCC

Once that’s out the way, let’s get foursquare behind Our Union Street.

Let’s cheer them on as they try to find new and exciting tenants for empty units.

Let’s answer Bob Keiller’s call to make sensible suggestions and positive proposals about what we want to see on Union Street, and what would make it thrive as an attractive place to go and linger.

There will, of course, be many different thoughts and ideas and I predict raised eyebrows and disagreements along the way – but that’s good.

Because debate is healthy and there needs to be healthy debate about which direction we want Union Street to take and there needs to be lots of it.

Having an open, frank and hopefully exciting and enthusiastic discussion is far better than the current attitude of tutting and shrugging and doing nothing.

The more we talk about it, the more we talk it up, the more likely that we will end with somewhere at the very heart of Aberdeen we can all enjoy and be proud of.

Let’s all do our bit to make it Our Union Street.

Scott Begbie is a long-time journalist and editor for The Press & Journal and Evening Express