Not everything erected as part of last year’s Bath Christmas Market was taken down at the end of the event.
We live in troubled times and anti-terrorism barriers of many shapes and sizes have been installed around the country.
In Bath, we are left with necessary – but rather unsightly – blocks of concrete.
They started their street life being wrapped in Christmas paper but have since suffered greater indignities as large-scale cigarette ashtrays, tables for empty beer cans and additional seating for the weary.
Contractors in the Saw Close added their own decorations to some. Using them as warnings to the roadworks ahead, and now – l hear B&NES wants to do something officially with them to make them less of an eye-sore – but still obvious as a deterrent.
Word has it the newly-elected Mayor may be asked to launch a competition for school kids to come up with designs for individual paintworks.
While l applaud the idea of involving our talented youngsters, l have a feeling the standard of finish might not be quite what tourists want to see in the middle of a World Heritage city.
Professional artists might do a better job of it but – maybe – any attempt to paint them may well just encourage the graffiti artists to move in and apply a second coating.
Our one-man Graffiti Unit would never cope with that.
Having come back from France just recently l have included some ‘block’ types from Paris where they tend to just leave them alone to acquire a ‘street’ patina.
Maybe ours could be colour-coded for the area in which they are situated or just made into novelty road signs e.g. ‘Baths this way’ or ‘Circus straight on?’
Be interested to hear what others may think.
