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[Cloud]

Originally Posted by Stripey

Good points and all quite true, anyone whos grown up in an outlying town from aberdeen ought to know what its like to be a teenager in a place with no amenities where there is bugger all to do with yourself outside the house. It really pisses me off a lot how the councils etc moan about vandalism, drinking and so on, a lot of the blame rests on their shoulders for the failure to see that something as simple as a skatepark can potentially provide a more constructive focus for young people.
Whatever happened to youth clubs? The council just don't give a damn about anything, the people making the decisions about funding and coming up with ideas etc are all braindead out of touch fuckwits and it's people like them that mean aberdeen will always be a miserable backwater which is horrible to live in.

It might be a touch cynical to say this on here, but I'd rather have youth clubs/etc set up, rather than a brand new building for 'the arts' in Union Terrace Gardens. How many youth clubs could be established (and sustained) for the cost of that one building? Fair enough, the money from ACC is a loan and not a grant - but does anyone believe that the loan will be paid back on commercial terms, particularly if the alternative is closure?

Unfortunately, there's probably no pork associated with small, local, community projects and so councils generally won't be interested.

[Lucky Rathen]

I went to Doonies Farm on Saturday, it was loadsa fun. I signed a petition there as well. The woman I was talking to told me they have just submitted new plans to do the place up as well, have more animals and build a cafe, shop and visitor centre which would be cool actually actually as there isn't really a whole lot to do there.... it takes an hour tops to see all the animals! Also got persuaded somehow to go to the protest march on Saturday morning dressed as a sheep..... how do I get myself into these ridiculous situations. The staff all seem really really determined to save the place.

[Thomas Banacek]

*sigh*

Dear KittyCat

Marischal College is funded from the Council's capital budget.

Services and places such as Doonies etc. are funded by the revenue budget.

The Council cannot simply take £27million from the capital budget to fill the gaps in revenue.

I have to say I occasionally attend Council meetings in my spare time, because I am a geek, and I went along to the budget meeting.

Nobody put forward a realisitc alternative to the budget savings which were proposed, unless anyone else out there has something to contribute then I fail to see the point in condemning those who are taking tough decisions on this.

I cannot understand why some folk find it so difficult to understand that in order to save a service you need to cut funding from another one.

I wonder how many of the thousands of people who have signed petitions actually visited the Bon Accord Baths, not many I will bet. Or saw how dilapidated the ice rink had become? I see it finally broke down the other week, I am amazed it lasted this long. I last visited Doonies a few months ago and it was distinctly underwhelming.

That said, I have no problem with Doonies being rescued, but it is the only city farm in the UK which relies solely on a council to fund it.

As for the tented village outside Marischal College, I suppose it is all fair and well to make a democratic protest, but am I the only one who thinks Cyrenians are going to be doing themselves no favours when the budget process comes around again in 12 months time?

[Delly]

Save the Farm - it is a pitty we might loose it, I love the place. I also think with a little attention the place could be great

Turn it into a restaurant

[Thomas Banacek]

According to the Council agenda, there is a proposal to give the Save Doonies Campaign a chance to come up with funding to secure its long term future.

Good to see a constructive approach paying off.

[Jeanette]

No offence, as much as Doonies is probably fantastic and who doesn't love feeding little lambs, I am a tad more concerned about the closing of 3 Cyrenians projects! where are the people who rely on them for 'home' supposed to go. Friend of mine who works for the Cyrenians says that they are trying to rehouse many of the people who use the projects but likelihood is slim.

Council need to start prioritising!

[Thomas Banacek]

Apparently, a friend of mine who works for the Council says they have been offered the chance to refer folk to the Council's homelessness unit but have turned it down.

There's some discussion over this in the Politics forum.

From my reading of the situation, there isn't any extra money being given to Doonies, and it will only be saved if funding from other sources can be found.

[Jeanette]

Yeah. I've read that thread. It's all just a bit of a mess really regardless of which way this is looked at.

But I suppose its a case of watch this space!

p.s. how are the council going to fund the homelessness unit's extra work?! (rhetorical question of course)

[Lucky Rathen]

I can't remember if I said this already but sorry if I did, I was speaking to the bosses of Doonies a couple weeks ago and if it stays open they are planning on building a cafe, gift shop, visitors centre etc to take in more cash and make it self sustaining. Would be nice to see it given a chance.