Dear fellow friend of Giffnock community and Huntly Park,
Thank you for your support for our community led petition to secure the future of Huntly Park. The response to date has been overwhelming. Opposing voices have been been virtually non existent. That tells me one thing: the community strongly opposes building development in Huntly Park. I am personally astonished that a lingering threat can still exist in such obstinate defiance of local opinion, but it does.
While I am happy to fight wrongs, I cannot stand negativity or negative attitudes. We need hope, cheer and a bit of positive action. For that reason, the petition is not all about saying no. The petition is deliberately framed positively. It says yes to a community led café. It says yes to all weather exercise equipment. It says yes to increasing the biodiversity in the park. I am also saying yes to a Huntly Cup football competition for local girls and boys. Think of how the quality of our lives could increase if all of these things happened. They are all achievable - we just need to have a shared vision and work towards it.
We have a momentum now, but there can be no complacency. It is when complacency builds up that positions are compromised (in sport, business and local community campaigning alike). Opposition, whilst muted, does exist though; the threat remains. By increasing the number of supporters, we increase our chances of success.
I am happy to go head to head in public with whoever on the argument, but in a democracy, nothing comes close to beating the power of an empowered community working together.
All I ask at this time is that you share the petition widely (and if you could, keep doing it).
Thank you.
Best wishes,
Allan Steele
Giffnock