Spot the flower contest

6:10am Saturday 5th July 2008

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At this time of year, Oxford is usually a blaze of colour, with flowers everywhere, but not this year.

We agree with critics - the city of dreaming spires has become the city of barren flowerbeds, just a shadow of its former self.

The £45,000 budget cuts have clearly taken its toll.

City councillor Bryan Keen, an Oxford in Bloom committee member for more than 20 years, is probably exaggerating when he says the city is looking a disgrace.

But we know what he means.

Oxford is a former Britain in Bloom winner, and we have come to expect it to be festooned with floral displays, not just one here and there.

And it is not only the city centre which looks bare - the suburbs are even worse.

We could almost have a Spot the Flower contest!

Thankfully, Oxford in Bloom competitors have helped save the day to some extent.

But as more and more front gardens are concreted over for cars to avoid parking charges, even flowers are a little thin on the ground.

The good news is that the new Labour administration in charge of the city council hopes to reverse the Lib-Dem cuts.

With a bit of luck, Oxford will be blooming lovely again next year.