Time to lose the rusty love locks

A walker along the Wellington waterfront will find many items of artistic merit but between the Len Lye installation and the ‘‘leaning man’’ there is a sight that should be an embarrassment to the city.

For several years, the railings on the bridge over the lagoon entrance have been streaked with unsightly rust because the council’s waterfront operations refuses to remove the ugly and rusting collection of so called ‘‘love locks’’, other padlocks, bicycle locks and at least one car steering wheel lock.

When attempting to excuse his department’s inaction, the waterfront operations manager claimed that there was ‘‘a certain charm’’ about this unsightly mess; although he was unable or unwilling to explain what he found charming about the old steering wheel lock hanging off the railings.

Like declarations of love or lust (and other messages) graffitied on the walls of public buildings or carved into trees in public places, these locks are defacing and damaging public property. And, like graffiti, if you tolerate the practice you encourage it.

The now accepted practice of removing graffiti as soon as it appears should also be applied to the various locks on the lagoon bridge railings.

CHRIS CHAPMAN Kelburn