...so much in three years.
Three years ago as Stratford was preparing for the Olympics...
...there were flowers everywhere. I snapped this photo from the steps that lead to the Westfield shopping centre as the workmen were hanging flower baskets from the lights. Behind them you can see the roof of the Bus station and to the top right you can see the blue framed windows on my office.
Fast forward three years and the lights are still there...
...so is the Bus station roof - but there is no sign of my office...it is hidden behind a new tower block.
If you look closely, you will see that they have hung flower baskets from some of the lights but nowhere near as many as before...
...and to the left of the photo you can see a crane - that will be another tower block.
Three years ago on the plaza outside my office there were loads of these planters...
...each one was a different colour and made a wonderful backdrop for photos (I lost count of the number of times I was stopped and asked to take photos of Olympic visitors on this square).
This year there are three planters...
...all filled with a mix of red/white/blue...
,,,very pretty...
...but not nearly as impressive as three years ago...
...however, at least an effort is being made. Where I live in Essex, our Council decided that from this year they are no longer going to plant and maintain the public flower beds around the Borough.
Stanford-le-Hope is just a small part of the Borough and the local traders thought it was terrible to let things like the flower beds, hanging baskets and planters disappear so they have taken over responsibility. Some of the planters are really coming into bloom beautifully so I'll try and get some photos to share with you all......................................................................
3 comments:
A sign of the times Toni with council cuts glad the locals have taken over
it still looks beautiful. i haven't been back to Chicago since i retired 9 yrs ago. my rural town is .... well, it's full of antique shops. i've no clue how they stay in business. antiques are NOT cheap. there must be a dozen antique shops within a 4 block radius - go figure... and 4 restaurants. there's a gazebo in the center of town and on certain days of the year there is a parade or the firemen put on something. pretty boring. however, we do have a fabulous library. and that's my story and i'm stickin' to it - LOL.
weather is strange - 3 days rain and humidity; 1 day sunny and breezy. temps this week in the 70's. i can only HOPE the rest of the summer is mild!
have a great week!
hugs :)
Definitely a sign of the times... and I guess we would be complaining if the councils cut back services and then spent a heap of dosh on flower baskets.... so it is good that local businesses and people are willing to fill in the gap... in the village I live in it has always been the local people who have paid for the hanging baskets and barrels of flowers that are on street corners, down mostly to the hard work of one man... goodness knows what will happen when he gets too old to continue. :(
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