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Parks as the medium and the message, reflections from the front line.
Cho Cho!
I’m hot, and I’m bothered, and it is all because I’m standing on an un-shaded, dusty and hot railway station! It has ‘waiting shelters’ made from what looks like perspects and it’s rather like waiting in an oven whilst it cooks the Sunday lunch! This prompts me to ask the question, why is it that we don’t invest in ‘Greening’ and shading railway stations and platforms?
Take Waterloo for example, it is devoid of any pretence of foliage, and is as hot and uncompromising as a baker’s oven! Time for a makeover, and a competition, me thinks. And time to bring Railway Stations and platforms into the 21 century – and in time for the Olympic and the millions of visitors that, unless we act, will sufferer a fate worse than death! The benefits that planting and shade confer is indisputable, and with the prospect of continuing climate change, a necessary public and customer service!
I propose that we invent a ‘Green Flag Award’ for Railway Stations. And that we lobby the Government to do more to reduce our stress and the impacts on our health that standing on an un-shaded and baking railway platform or Station concourse has by insisting that their franchisees ‘Green’ the network. I for one would be willing to provide some Pro-Bono advice to them! What say you?
