The Bancroft gardens were reopened this week. I can now deliver my full verdict, which if I'm honest doesn't differ much from my previous verdict.
The "improvements" and "modernisations" have unquestionably brought a new meaning to the word 'bland'. The corner near bridge street that was once host to a beautiful array of trees, is now an empty sea of pavement slabs and steel railings, lampposts, and bollards. What's left of the grass areas have been uninspiringly divided by yet more paving slabs. The grass near the roadside has been raised up and surrounded by tacky looking marble. There are some new trees planted here, but they are sorry looking things and they don't look like they intend to grow any bigger, or prove any challenge to the previous occupants.
The quaint little bridge over the lock, has been replaced with another large wad of steel. The little flower garden which sat next to it, has been replaced with something that looks like a mini amphitheatre, this too is the very definition of bland, no room for flowers here I'm afraid! This whole bit and the riverside pathway has been tastefully covered in tarmac with a layer of grit covering the top, the same colour as the slabs, stonework, etc.. The one saving grace of this area is the sundial tribute to the firemen who lost their lives in that warehouse fire. This is actually very very nice, but unfortunately it's not enough to bring life to this dessicated landscape.
Several rows of flower gardens have been unceremoniously dumped in endless rows in the garden by the roadside. There is actually more flowerbed then garden now. This bit may actually look nice in time, but in it's current state of fenced off mud with a few random and desperately weedy looking flowers, it's hard to gain inspiration.
Overall, I don't think dessicated is too strong a word to describe what has been done. If the design brief was to make it look as ordinary, pointless, boring, and uninspirational as possible, then the "designer" has succeeded. When I think how beautiful all those trees were before, and what we have now, I can only shake my head in utter bewilderment. Sure it could have used tidying up, but this is pathetic and really quite upsetting. Stratford is another mighty step closer to looking like absolutely nothing special.
But hey, that's all just my opinion. I'd be interested to see what other people think, and if I'm being too harsh.
Bookmarks