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Clitheroe town centre flower beds to be replaced by vegetable patches?
A PLAN to replace Clitheroe's vibrant floral displays with arrangements of the more sedate vegetable is being promoted by the town council.
Instead of petunias and marigolds, hanging baskets and planters would be filled with cabbages and carrots, to provide a "pick-your-own" service.
Mayor of the Ribble Valley Coun. Beverley Jones is backing the proposal. "It's an excellent idea. It's a better way of using the planters than flowers. There are possible pitfalls such as vandalism, but I don't think it should put us off," she said.
Mel Diack MBE, of Whalley, believes a switch from flowers to vegetables would be positive. "I quite agree with it. I've been trying for years in Whalley to get more allotments," he commented.
However, some residents have suggested vandalism could be an issue.
Gillian McKinlay, of Clitheroe, said: "In many ways it's a good idea, but some people would just take it all. I'm not sure there would be much left on a Saturday morning."
Denise Lawrence-Beard, a member of Transition Town Clitheroe, the group which suggested the plan, believes vandalism would not be an issue. "Vandalism was raised as a concern, but I don't think it is a reason for not trying this."
Transition Town Clitheroe is trying to raise the profile of growing local food and encourage people to be pro-active in the face of climate change. Mrs Lawrence-Beard added: "As far as I'm concerned, it's something people can get involved in and it's something that's visible.
"You can feel quite powerless with climate change, but this is something that's pro-active."
A similar scheme has found success in Todmorden, where residents have been encouraged to harvest vegetables for free.
While Transition Town Clitheroe stresses it is not assuming the plan will get the go-ahead, the hope is that edible vegetable displays will soon be lining the town's streets.
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Weather for Clitheroe
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
