Polotsk utility workers are considering an alternative to the tradition of hanging "love locks" on the bridge

September 15, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Polotsk utility workers are seriously considering an alternative to the tradition of hanging "love locks" on the Red Bridge, Vladimir Shedko, director of the communal unitary enterprise "Housing and Communal Services of Polotsk", told a BELTA correspondent. The Italian romantic fashion reached Polotsk a few years ago. Like the residents of the Pyrenees, enamored Polotsk residents began to fasten locks on the bridge railings as a pledge of eternal love and throw the key into the river, choosing the Red Bridge over the Polota for this purpose. Over the years of the tradition, hundreds of locks have appeared on the bridge, and utility services periodically cut them off. As Vladimir Shedko explained, "so as not to spoil the aesthetics." However, even utility services could not resist the lovers - the locks reappeared on the railings again and again. According to Vladimir Shedko, utility services are now nurturing the idea of creating either a "tree of love" like in Moscow, or, like in Florence, a beautiful lamppost where lovers could hang their locks without spoiling the urban aesthetics. "The tradition of 'love locks' is wonderful, and we are not against it," the interlocutor emphasized. Meanwhile, in Rome, where municipal authorities tried to fight "love locks" and mercilessly cut them off, serious passions erupted: lovers defended their right to hang a lock on the railings of the Milvio Bridge over the Tiber in every possible way and won. And in Odessa, where newlyweds hung locks on the railings of the Mother-in-Law's Bridge, a big fuss arose after utility workers cleared the bridge of locks. In Moscow, newlyweds also initially hung locks on the Luzhkov Bridge. However, after cutting the locks from the railings, the authorities installed a cast-iron tree, on which the locks looked just as good as on the bridge. The tradition took root, and after the first tree, others appeared - there were so many people who wanted to hang their lock on the branches of the unusual tree. But in Vitebsk, where Pushkin Bridge is covered with "love locks," utility services do not intend to hinder romantics. According to specialists from the "Gordormost" enterprise, despite the fact that the bridge is a strategic object and there should be no unplanned objects or items on it, they are not going to cut off the "love locks." Although it would be nice to offer an alternative to the bridge, "Gordormost" engineers believe. -0-