Is it me or does £600k for a chunk of marble and two 'lollipop' trees seem excessive?
Coupled with the fact that this Council regularly changes its mind and digs up the area around the Clock Tower on a seemingly annual basis, it appears a colossal waste of money. 

However, we can be thankful that the Council have indeed accepted the money from central Government - they have been known in the past to hand grants back, claiming they cannot cope with all the hassle of spending them!!
 
At least once the present work is finished we'll be able to sit on the new benches and watch them switch the Christmas lights on !