One up, three down

The bit of good news is that the hawthorn along both sides of Horton Lane was looking splendid this morning. As good as anything you might get at Wisley.

Plus, the miniature azaleas on the southern roundabout (see Gmaps 51.338976, -0.292843) are in flower and well worth a mention in dispatches. Maybe a foot across now, so how big will they be in five years time?

But there are three bits of bad news. First, the main crossroads in the center of Epsom is looking very tired with great chunks of the road surface missing. Second, the four thin trees planted outside our new station are also looking very tired: two moribund, one just hanging in and one will be stunted at best. All down to the failure to water after planting during the heat wave last summer. OK, so it may not have been or even be a direct responsibility of the council, but the council ought to care about and be effective in looking after appearances. The station, after all, is likely to be what many visitors or new arrivals first see of the place. What we had instead was wishful thinking that the damaged trees would spring back into life in the spring. And third, the mowing people have seen fit to mow down the wild flowers and so on growing on the banks of the stream running down Longmead Road. Vegetation which as well as being pretty might have been thought to be harmless, and the absence of which leaves an unsightly mess of now visible litter and ruts left in the soft ground by the mowers. Illustrated left.

Who sets the priorities in these matters?

Perhaps we ought to get our local branch of the Residents' Association to appoint one its young and eager candidates-designate to look after the appearance of our borough. Such a person might have better channels to the seats of power than I do.