S. Wales Evening Post - 14 September 2005
I Found the story Vandals win (Post, September 8) a sad reflection on the attitudes shown by a persistent minority of people in our city who have no regard for public or private property and who will always try to make life just that bit worse for the rest of us, no matter what precautions are put in place. What I also find hard to believe, however, is the rationale behind the original decision, taken before the last local elections, to place planters in the city centre which look like dustbins.
Indeed, even before damage was done to the shrubs, people had started to place rubbish in the top of the planters.In terms of their design and aesthetics, I think that the planters look cheap and totally unsuited to the job of displaying shrubs.
I do not like to think that the vandals have "won" anything, but I am not sad to see these planters leave our streets.
Perhaps now the council will look more carefully at the design of some new planters to replace the ones which are going. I agree with the Oxford Street traders that something needs to be done to lift the drab look of our city centre, but it needs doing properly.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, Liberal Democrat (Mayals Ward), County Hall, Swansea
