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People don't like Leighton's 'tacky' plastic flowers
PLASTIC flowers in the town centre hanging baskets have gone down like a lead balloon with many LBO readers.
A number of people have told us they are disgusted to see the “tacky” and “gaudy” plastic displays in place of Leighton’s usual beautiful real floral baskets and mounds. Some said they would rather have no flowers at all than be disappointed by such obviously artificial and tasteless replacements.
The Big Green Challenge is blossoming for Leighton-Linslade Town Council believed its introduction of artificial flowers to the lamp posts in the High Street and North Street would be good for the environment.
Communities could win a 1 million prize fund offered by Big Green Challenge organisers NESTA if they successfully work together to reduce CO2 emissions.
The town council signed up to the challenge and in order to keep Leighton looking pretty during the summer months, this year it has opted for plastic flowers on a trial basis to make, what could be, climate saving changes.
In past years, 165 flower baskets have hung from the town's lamp posts. All were watered three times a week by six people, taking three hours and with three vehicles at a time using up gallons of water and petrol. So the council wanted to save on these valuable resources and kick-start their big green challenge.
“The plastic flower baskets have been hired and work out slightly cheaper,” said Barry Wardle at the town council offices. “The baskets will be changed every seven weeks, and shortly will be moved to areas on the outskirts of town where in recent years it has caused inconvenience to water them. The baskets in the High Street will be replaced with real flowers shortly – it is all part of our Big Green Challenge.”
However, one reader pointed out that plastic flowers had to be manufactured in a process which causes carbon dioxide emissions, and felt it was a strange approach to encouraging people to appreciate nature. (See letters page).
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
