A town in denial

This triptych of the town centre by a Morpeth schoolgirl hangs on a wall at the rear of the Sanderson Arcade. It's bold and inventive, but there's something missing from this familiar scene.

This picture of Morpeth market, one of a bucolic series recently hung in the pedestrian walkway through to Newgate Street, shows a predominantly traffic-free town centre. Looks bloody lovely, let's go there.

This relief metalwork frieze in the bus station broadcasts Morpeth's charms. Apologies for the quality of photo. Aquatic fowl and mature trees live here among warm old stone buildings.

It's a challenge to find a photo of the town in Inside Morpeth Magazine that hasn't been timed, cropped or angled to airbrush out motorised traffic.

This promotional video,

from the official Northumberland visitor website is an absolute hoot. Chortle, 14 seconds in, at the obstructed view and curious camera angle chosen to film Bridge Street: aimed coyly up at roofs and upper floors rather than the street level motorised clusterfuck. Note that filming from a crouch on the river bed will obscure traffic on Telford bridge.

Here's the un-varnished reality. That bloke's been stuck there trying to cross the road since being sent out for some milk by his mum thirty years ago. The milk's off.