Controversial £20,000 planters in Alexandria are set to be eliminated, after being branded “a waste of cash” by the council chief.
The 32 packing containers – which value £635 every – had been positioned close to the Smollett Fountain on the junction between Major Avenue and Financial institution Avenue final July, sparking disbelief and outrage from residents.
The garish designs had been created by pupils at Vale of Leven Academy to have a good time the city’s textile heritage with Turkey Purple-style animal and flower motifs.
They had been funded via the Scottish Authorities’s Sustrans’ Areas for Individuals Scheme, nonetheless did little to impress locals who requested: “Why are they placing out wee frilly bits when half of the city appears to be like like it's crumbling?
“It has been described as like a row of coffins. This has turned the Vale right into a laughing inventory.”
One other resident, Emma Truscott, wrote to native MSP Jackie Baillie along with her considerations, while enterprise homeowners reported seeing the planters struck by passing automobiles.
The mission aimed to minimise site visitors and make the world extra pedestrian and bike owner pleasant and create a ‘gateway’
into Alexandria Major Avenue.
Nevertheless, at a hustings organised by the Alexandria Merchants Affiliation and the pilot Alexandria Group Council final week, council chief Jonathan McColl admitted that the packing containers would quickly be eliminated.
Responding to a query from Rev. Ian Miller, the SNP member mentioned: “Don’t get me began on these bloody flower pots. That was a waste of cash, I’m simply glad it wasn’t council cash.
“I do know it was faculty youngsters who designed them. However my God.”
Group Occasion candidate for Lomond, Drew MacEoghainn, mentioned that the planters had been indicative of the issues confronted by residents within the Vale.
He mentioned: “Masterplans are nice. However we additionally want issues completed tomorrow.
“As a result of that’s the place we lose individuals. Individuals find yourself issues and assume that nothing has occurred.
“I might go down now and 4 or 5 of us might take away these flower packing containers.
“There are gutters with flowers rising out of them. Why don’t we do issues like that now?”
MacEoghainn’s feedback had been met by rapturous applause from the viewers, with Leven SNP candidate Ronnie McColl confirming that the installations could be eliminated.
Nevertheless, McColl ignored feedback from hecklers asking for a date of elimination.
Final yr a West Dunbartonshire Council spokeswoman mentioned: “The introduction of the planters was topic to a highway security audit, which recognized no considerations.”
A WDC spokesperson confirmed that the planters could be eliminated this month and that different makes use of for them had been being investigated.