St Fittick’s ruling a dark day for local community and nature
The Court of Session ruling against St Fittick's residents is “a slap in the face for a community that has already borne the brunt of Aberdeen’s vast inequality”, says the Scottish Green MSP for North East Scotland, Maggie Chapman.
Local campaigners from the Friends of St Fittick’s had raised a Judicial Review on the controversial plans to build a so-called Energy Transition Zone on St Fittick’s Community Park – the last green space in Torry, Aberdeen.
Ms Chapman has supported the community-led campaign to save the park, has hosted a debate about its future in the Scottish Parliament, and has called for Scottish Ministers to intervene to protect it.
Scottish Greens MSP for North East, Ms Chapman said:
“This is an extremely disappointing ruling, and a dark day for the local community and nature.
“The Friends of St Fittick’s and other local campaigners have been tireless in their efforts to protect their local environment. I hope that campaigners will be considering all options.
“It is a slap in the face for a community that has already borne the brunt of Aberdeen’s vast inequality and uneven development.
“It is not justice that people in Torry have a life expectancy more than 10 years lower than people elsewhere in Aberdeen. And it is not justice that people in Torry have already been burdened with the city’s sewage works and incinerator, and lost their beach at Nigg Bay to the South Harbour development.
“My heart and solidarity is with the local people, who could have their very limited green space eroded even further.
“This is a reminder that the planning system still works against too many people, and that big business is often given free-reign while ordinary people and activists struggle to access justice.
“St Fittick’s Park is crucial for nature and the local community in Torry. If its development goes ahead, this reckless proposal will be bad for local people’s health and wellbeing and for the local environment.
“We need a system that puts social and environmental justice ahead of corporate profits and protects our green spaces for people and planet.”