Scott Herrett’s arrival in Aberdeen in 2016 was met with a stark revelation: the city was not one but two distinct entities. Since 1969, when the accidental oil discovery by the American BP subsidiary Amoco transformed Aberdeen into Europe’s crude capital, the city underwent a rapid metamorphosis from a 1,000-year-old fishing port to the wealthiest city in the UK. However, across the River Dee lies Torry, one of Scotland’s most impoverished areas.
Herrett describes Torry as the city’s economic underbelly, where jokes often center on its disadvantaged status. This stark contrast between central Aberdeen and Torry is evident in the city’s built environment, with towering spires juxtaposed against dilapidated council estates and desolate high streets. Torry, in particular, bears the brunt of socio-economic disparities, exacerbated by issues such as collapsing homes constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).
Health data further highlights the disparity, with residents of Torry experiencing significantly lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic lung disease and depression compared to their affluent counterparts. Herrett contends that Aberdeen’s neglect of Torry stems not in spite of the oil boom but because of it, as the area becomes a dumping ground for the oil industry’s undesirable consequences, including landfills and waste incinerators.
As Aberdeen prepares for a transition away from fossil fuels, Torry once again finds itself at the forefront of change. Despite aspirations to lead the energy transition, Aberdeen struggles to wean itself off its oil dependency, largely due to the fossil fuel industry’s continued influence. The construction of the city’s new south harbor, initially intended to facilitate Scotland’s transition to renewable energy, has veered towards safeguarding fossil fuel extraction amidst global market volatility.
Wood, a local oil tycoon, spearheads the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ), a project aimed at repurposing Torry’s land for renewable energy production. However, critics argue that the ETZ prioritizes energy supply over demand reduction and serves as a greenwashing tool for the fossil fuel industry. Locals, represented by groups like Friends of St Fittick’s Park, vehemently oppose the project, which threatens to engulf the park, a cherished community space, in concrete.
Despite mounting opposition, ETZ Ltd remains steadfast in its plans, brushing aside alternative proposals for brownfield redevelopment. The SNP-run council’s approval of the local development plan, including the incorporation of St Fittick’s Park into the ETZ, underscores a democratic deficit, wherein private interests overshadow community concerns.
Torry residents, however, refuse to yield, challenging the ETZ through legal avenues and grassroots activism. While Wood may wield financial power, the resilience of Torry’s community serves as a formidable force against corporate encroachment. As the battle for St Fittick’s Park rages on, it symbolizes not just a struggle against environmental injustice but a testament to the enduring spirit of a community fighting to protect its heritage and future.