BASKET CASE
Our town is being ruined by ‘nonsense’ council plans to swap beautiful floral displays with ugly replacement
RESIDENTS of a picturesque town say that it will be ruined by the council's plan to swap lovely floral displays for an "ugly" replacement.
Locals of Salisbury, , have slammed the idea as "nonsense" and claim it will detract from the image of the town centre.
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They are up in arms after Salisbury City Council voted to do away with the hanging baskets as part of a "sustainable planting regime".
Instead of the flowers, the council proposes introducing "living pillars" and "parklets" in a drive to make Salisbury carbon neutral.
Living pillars are structures with climbing plants like ivy growing around them, rather than baskets of flowers.
But the prospect of losing the iconic hanging baskets that are dotted around the centre has been branded "ridiculous" by locals.
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Environmental Services manager Marc Read said: "It is time for a more forward-facing approach that is more sympathetic to the environmental challenges the country is facing and that embraces change and considers alternative approaches."
It comes four years after the left-wing council pledged to make the city as carbon-neutral as possible by 2030.
However, the people living there are less than impressed.
Councillor Eleanor Wills : "Leave the hanging baskets alone, keep the traditional floral displays and stop promoting nonsense which pushes visitors and residents alike away.
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"Go to any historic city and floral displays make the place. Salisbury has always had a proud history of stunning floral displays throughout the summer months."
She was backed up in the comments, with one local writing: "Eleanor, You are a champion fighting all these causes."
Another added: "Terrible decision! The hanging baskets look beautiful."
Around 30 hanging baskets brimming with pink flowers currently adorn Market Square in the centre of the city.
Some visitors such as Sue Branch said they come to the spot specifically to admire the floral display - but won't bother to return if the plans go ahead.
"It's a lovely square," she said. "We came here and thought 'it's really nice in Salisbury' because of the flower display.
"It's a lovely place to visit, the flowers make it fantastic. I was thinking of visiting again, but I'm not so sure if they're taking them away.
"They must lift the spirits of the people who live here. They certainly caught my attention."
An elderly resident echoed her opinions, saying the new planters will suck the life out of the area.
Anne, who asked not to give her surname, said: "Having planters instead of hanging baskets will make the square look very dull.
"I'm very against this plan. This will take all the pleasure away from sitting and having a coffee outside. They look lovely here.
FLOWER POWER
"If it's watering them that's the problem, why can't the local businesses adopt them and water them themselves? I know it would still use the water, but it wouldn't be on the council."
Her friend - who asked not to be identified - added: "I know maintaining the flowers is probably expensive, but we're paying a lot of council tax here already.
"Taking them away would be terrible. It would be a great shame. Yes, it costs a lot of money but so does everything these days."
Peter Harrison, who grew up in the city, said: "There's nothing wrong with the flowers. They're pretty. Those trying to get rid of them for the environment are idiots. It's ridiculous."
Another local who has lived in Salisbury all his life branded the proposal a "stupid idea" and suggested residents may rally against it.
He added: "I wouldn't be surprised if people started up a petition. 99 per cent of people here would sign it."
However, Lib Dem councillor Sam Charleston defended the plan and said: "I am fully in favour of the parklets and the living pillars and could be here all year round."
It comes after the locals of a seaside town said it was being ruined by their bungling council with new parking schemes causing more congestion.
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Meanwhile, residents of Brighton, , slammed their council for greedy price hikes, with parking fees rising 300% overnight.
Independent councillor Annie Riddle, who is part of the council leadership group, said she was disappointed by the criticism of the scheme and the "ridicule" the council had faced.
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