Little gaps

Little gaps

I moved to pretty place so quaint

An attractive market town,

It got too crowded where I was

Fed up with feeling down.

The village expanded and overgrew

With people insincere;

It became a worry to walk alone

Without concern and fear.

No longer could I walk through town

The place had got too dark,

With crime just around the corner

And drugs in every park.

The quiet streets did overspill

The concrete blocks did rise

People with different backgrounds –

We had to compromise.

A community disrupted,

With scaffolding, mortar, cranes.

It didn’t take long to work out

That it would never be the same.

Houses, flats and tall blocks

And tiny gaps got filled;

It cut into the greenbelt land

With so many of new builds.

The place was overrun with rats

The builders were bad news.

An appointment made got harder,

There were so many queues.

We couldn’t get to town on foot,

transport measures were cut,

Footpaths were non existent

And many shops had shut.

And traffic overflowed the roads

With frustration everywhere,

To get from A to B

Was getting hard to bear.

It hadn’t always been that way

Where I was born and bred.

Wanted to swap this concrete jungle

For Greenery and scenery instead!

I have heard things have improved,

Put birthplace on the map!

But still thousands of people

Come in to fill the gaps.

Many months I looked South-East

Through pretty country-side.

So much space and lovely views

It wasn’t hard to decide!

I needed to find a haven

With some tranquility.

Good schools and infrastructure

And better amenities.

No queues, traffic blues or over dues

Just Bluebells and blossom trees.

The roads are clear – it’s warmer here!

Filled with wildlife, butterflies and bees.

And here within the first few years

An easier life is made,

The friendly face and atmosphere;

And even made the grade!

The friendly face, the easy pace,

A better way of life.

From one village to another

Away from all the strife.

A 'good morning' with a smile

On a bright and sunny day.

A far cry from what I used to know

And here I want to stay.

Ten years of no regrets

Although this market town has altered.

Plans going ahead but much opposed

This little town will falter.

The townsfolk will get overstretched

Doctors and schools won't cope.

We can only keep our fingers crossed

And sign the petition in hope.

Houses, flats and new builds,

Three-car families perhaps.

It seems hundreds of people

Are going to fill the little gaps....

Copyright Linda Lawrence

4^th May 2016  (For my dad)