The Americanization of London

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stellauk -> The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 2:55:23 AM)
Last night I attended a residents meeting in my local community hall where we were invited to discuss proposals concerning the new US Embassy which is to be built here in Nine Elms (replacing the current one in Cavendish Square), planned to open in 2017. Work has already begun. There's been a compulsory purchase of the old British Telecom exchange in Nine Elms Lane, there are plans to redevelop the site of New Covent Garden Market, the largest wholesale fruit and vegetable market in the UK (with 3,400 different stalls) and this is going to be tied in with the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station. It's a welcome change because here, in the north east corner of Wandsworth borough we have already got a street sweeper, they have started to collect rubbish on a regular basis (some streets even get collections twice a week) and we have new litter bins. Much different from a couple of years ago when some residents were plagued by cockroach infestations and a fairly large rat population attracted by the rotting vegetables that some traders left out between collections. We are also going to be on the Underground, as they plan to extend to Northern Line south from Kennington to Battersea and link it to a new heliport planned for Battersea Power Station. However I wonder whether some of the proposals announced last night were going too far. These include: - the renaming of Vauxhall Bridge, the oldest river crossing in London, to Washington Bridge. - we are going to get an American style shopping mall with a 24 hours Walmart and other American chain stores. - the streets are going to be renamed around the area of the US Embassy. The part of Nine Elms Lane where the shopping mall is going to be is to be called Main Street, and we are going to get numbered avenues and streets, such as 4th Street and 6th Avenue. But what upset people was the proposal to name one of the streets after George W. Bush. For some reason the significant community of refugees from Afghanistan found that quite offensive. Your thoughts and comments?

DeviantlyD -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 3:00:50 AM)
Seriously? I had to check the forum name because I thought this might have been in the "Humour" section.

Palliata -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 3:06:05 AM)
I want you to know that while I may be laughing, I'm laughing in solidarity with my brothers across the pond [;)]

gungadin09 -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 7:29:41 AM)
It seems odd to me, and not just because it's George W. As far as i know, we do not have any streets named after British Prime Ministers. (Although we have a buttload of streets named after places in Britain.) pam

peachgirl -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 10:08:26 AM)
In all sincerity, I do not understand why a community would let another organization, political or not, re-name their streets. It sounds like Disneyland has moved in and re-created a little America. And having a street names after Dubya just makes me nauseous. Walmart has been consistently voted against in the community I live in. (We already have a Target). I wonder how the residents feel about Walmart being in their community. I get that Walmart, for many people, is a way of surviving the economic times we live in...I'm just puzzled as to whether or not it will welcomed with open arms. Are there economic trade-offs to be had by conceding to these conditions or is it because the neighborhood needs re-vitalization so badly?

DomMeinCT -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 2:09:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: stellauk But what upset people was the proposal to name one of the streets after George W. Bush. For some reason the significant community of refugees from Afghanistan found that quite offensive. Your thoughts and comments? Wouldn't it be great if they named a street after an (American or not) artist, musician, or scientist who contributed beautifully to your country, instead of a politician?

Lucylastic -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 2:58:10 PM)
I remember the furor when they decided to name a couple of local estate streets as nelson mandela way and desmond tutu drive. Renaming in london is kinda pointless, it will always be vauxhall bridge, battersea power station et al, it just causes confusion and in london thats not a good thing Im glad they are doin it up tho, but for business, more than the community:( Ive been a fan of 24 hour shops for a long time..cos IM a night owl, but I havent used one in about fifteen years now. But I have to say most town planners in the UK should be hung

FullCircle -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 5:48:36 PM)
It's April the 2nd.

Lucylastic -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 6:14:46 PM)
not for another 2 n a bit hours here[:(]

FullCircle -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 6:31:21 PM)
Technically speaking it's also Americanisation not Americanization. Zeds are for words we don't use much, such as zebra and zygote.

Palliata -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 6:48:02 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: FullCircle Technically speaking it's also Americanisation not Americanization. Zeds are for words we don't use much, such as zebra and zygote. Mais, non. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americanization

TheHeretic -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 6:59:51 PM)
Do let us know if they wind up naming a street for W., Stella. That would be classic.

outhere69 -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 8:09:58 PM)
Man, why do we need 12 stories?

pahunkboy -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/1/2011 10:00:43 PM)
My town has hair brained ideas.

Muttling -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/2/2011 5:21:02 AM)
At least you'll be able to start sharing our Walmart pleasures (please check the link)... http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/?page_id=9798

gungadin09 -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/2/2011 7:42:49 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: FullCircle It's April the 2nd. Damn, was it a joke? She got me. pam

peachgirl -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/2/2011 11:37:59 AM)
ouch! me too [sm=Groaner.gif]

Lucylastic -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/2/2011 11:52:02 AM)
me too and I took great delight in the people of walmart link to make me feel less of a twit:)

Phoenixpower -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/2/2011 12:03:24 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: gungadin09 It seems odd to me, and not just because it's George W. As far as i know, we do not have any streets named after British Prime Ministers. (Although we have a buttload of streets named after places in Britain.) pam But you have the village Blair in Oklahoma...isn't that named after Tony [:D] And what I am saying about that...nuffin really...as nuffin surprises me anymore... Only that personally I am against 24 hour stores and prefer the countries where stores are still shut on sundays and in some areas they are shut even half saturdays and half wednesdays...I think its better not to have people buzzing around 24/7 all the time...but thats just me [:)] And if they want a George W. street they can also take Schwarzenegger as street [:D] Thanks for your info Stella, shame I missed that, would have been interesting to attend [:)]

PeonForHer -> RE: The Americanization of London (4/2/2011 12:05:40 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: FullCircle It's April the 2nd. My first thought. Heh. ;-) Very good, Stella. But unlike you to provide links to the sources.

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