To be amused by how absurdly shite the marble arch mound is

[Gardentiger]

I mean honestly, it's just abysmal

I know it's not funny that 2 million pounds could have been put up much better use, but the sheer crapness of it is making me laugh

🤣🤣

It does have one saving grace: once you're on it you can't see it any more.

Apart from that I can't imagine what they were trying to achieve. They often have stuff on that patch of land next to the Arch, but it's an art installation or a Ferris wheel. Not turf-covered scaffolding with some dying trees.

Hopefully if it snows this year they can do all this and more on the festive slopes of the Marble Arch Mound

So you can ski down straight into the path of the traffic trying to make it through the lights

Perhaps it's a rookie error to commission a hill from the Dutch.

@merrymouse How I loved Parks and Rec. This could be an episode ... And it might appear on the Pawnee mural!

"It does have one saving grace: once you're on it you can't see it any more."

Looking it up, apparently it's sedum turf. How much water is it going to take to keep it alive!? Apparently the creators have said the plants need time to 'bed in'.

Pot bound trees and a thin layer of sedum that's already dying by the looks of it are not going to 'bed in'

I think I've passed through the laughter stage to the despair stage.

@Weebleweeble

Hope to goodness London paid for it and not U.K. taxpayers. Our roundabouts aren't really maintained these days - the odd flowery one - the rest weeds

It's paid for by Westminster council tax, with the idea that sponsorship (M&S, others?) and ticket sales reduce the bill.

I don't think it's any more a mayoral matter than choice of any other public art or local regereration schemes are (regeneration can be, if its strategic plan, but tarting up Oxford Street and surrounding area doesn't come under that)

They've had other public art there before - most recently an enormous horses head (sponsored by the mafia?)

@breakfasty

What can you see from the top?

I might take one for the team and go and find out.

Assuming they do walk up ticket sales

Ah. Perhaps it's a rookie error to commission a hill from the Dutch.

So it's a fake hill they're charging you to climb?

@SquirmOfEels I can't imagine its the sort of thing you'd book in advance? But who knows! If you do go have a lovely time!

@spongebath

So it's a fake hill they're charging you to climb?

There's stuff inside it (not sure what..)and lift. But yes.

@tallduckandhandsome

Hmm, disappointing. Here is a better mound, in Greenford, West London.

How much to walk up that one?

Poor Sadiq Khan just cannot win! Despite this being not his responsibility and nothing to do with the powers he has as Mayor of London, there are still people who want him to take some blame for this white elephant!

If he spoke out against this (and to be honest I have no idea whether he has or not), he would most likely be criticised for sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong.

I think some people are a bit obsessed with Sadiq.

In any case, from what I understand, despite this hill being an eyesore and a waste of money, it's not actually plastic grass it's turf. Which makes sense as presumably plastic grass would look a lot better than this actually does.

Absolutely hilarious how DESPERATE some posters are to find a way of blaming Sadiq for this!! It is the responsibility of Westminster council which is run by TORIES, @Proudboomer !!! 😂😂😂

Anyway, thanks for giving us all a good laugh, Westminster council.

There's stuff inside it...and lift.

There's stuff and a lift inside King's Cross station, but they don't charge £6 to go in there!

If you're going to do a Mound, you have to do it properly. "Northumberlandia | Day Out With The Kids" www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/northumberlandia-cf1af3a5

@BrightYellowDaffodil

There's stuff inside it...and lift.

There's stuff and a lift inside King's Cross station, but they don't charge £6 to go in there!

Yes. I know. Silly isn't it.

www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2017623/Selfridges-opens-rooftop-reveal-lake-cocktail-bar.html

This looks much more fun!

(NB: happened in 2011. Not open now).

@PickAChew it's stunning, isn't it? A proper mound's mound.

Not like that Mons Hubris at Marble Arch.

[quote PickAChew]If you're going to do a Mound, you have to do it properly. "Northumberlandia | Day Out With The Kids" www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/northumberlandia-cf1af3a5[/quote]
That one is not really achievable on a central London roundabout.

The mounds at Northala Fields are rather nice

Made from the spoil when they rebuilt Wembley Stadium

londonist.com/2011/05/nature-ist-northala-fields

And here's a blog post about London's artificial hills - it's not as if the capital is short of them!!

diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2016/07/londons-artificial-hills.html

Impressive effort to blame it on Sadiq Khan though. 10/10 for persistence, 0/10 for truthfulness.