It's just a complete load of bollards
There are a few things I dislike in life. Bureaucracy, bad manners and the destruction of natural beauty and the built environment are three of them.
I am a girl in love with her surroundings. It wounds me deeply when things are changed and not for the better.
Well my three pet hates have just happened here in The Enchanted Village, right under our noses. One day, while no-one was looking, two council workmen turned up and installed six bollards in front of the listed building next door. It now looks like a mini-version of Avebury. But unlike the mysterious stone circles of that famous Wiltshire village, this one is a semi-circle of the black plastic variety.
This is a village square with historical features that include an old pub, a commemorative plaque, a village pump and a red telephone box. It is quintessentially English.
Mrs Champagne-Charlie, who is so lovingly restoring the house, wailed: 'I can't believe they can just do that without telling anyone. If they had to do it, you'd think they would put in something more in keeping.'
She's right, although the plastic bollards seem to cower in an act of worship to the modern grey metal lamp post that sprang up outside the house a couple of years ago. The council apologised for putting this War of the Worlds monster in the pretty village square. Upholding an official complaint penned by yours truly, they said they'd learned valuable lessons about consulting the people.
Yeah, right.
That's about it.
Love Maddie x
I am a girl in love with her surroundings. It wounds me deeply when things are changed and not for the better.
Well my three pet hates have just happened here in The Enchanted Village, right under our noses. One day, while no-one was looking, two council workmen turned up and installed six bollards in front of the listed building next door. It now looks like a mini-version of Avebury. But unlike the mysterious stone circles of that famous Wiltshire village, this one is a semi-circle of the black plastic variety.
This is a village square with historical features that include an old pub, a commemorative plaque, a village pump and a red telephone box. It is quintessentially English.
Mrs Champagne-Charlie, who is so lovingly restoring the house, wailed: 'I can't believe they can just do that without telling anyone. If they had to do it, you'd think they would put in something more in keeping.'
She's right, although the plastic bollards seem to cower in an act of worship to the modern grey metal lamp post that sprang up outside the house a couple of years ago. The council apologised for putting this War of the Worlds monster in the pretty village square. Upholding an official complaint penned by yours truly, they said they'd learned valuable lessons about consulting the people.
Yeah, right.
That's about it.
Love Maddie x
Hmmm, listed buildings, bureaucracy and the word bollards does indeed spring to mind, I hope you are going to kick up a fuss !!
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely criminal isn't it. Councils don't seem to have respect for our heritage, all they're interested in is making as money as possible. Or now of course, saving it. Which is a laugh and another story!
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
Oh dear, it is horrible when they just do these thoughtless things. I thought bollards were for liquor outlets to prevent ram raids! Shame you can't carefully remove them one night and gently pile them at the shire office door.
ReplyDeleteThe great cultural divide yawns open - am off to find out just what a bollard might be.
ReplyDeleteThe fight is the same world-wide. Over here there's always someone who wants to build a horrible subdivision in the middle of the woods.
I don't know how these people get away with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely in agreement with the 'dig 'em up' or 'chop 'em down' brigade - if they serve no purpose, get rid!!!! Tell them I said you could..... Lucylastic!
ReplyDeleteWell, apparently the parish council knew. The county council say the bollards have been put in to stop obstruction of the pavement. A quiet word with the person who parks there would have done the trick. And been cheaper. And less unsightly. Too easy? Probably. And the bollards are standard issue, one-size-fits-all. Hail to the powers-that-be. God help us.
ReplyDelete