The street had a few words of advice for candidates as they launch their charm offensive on the public: "Talk to us about the things that matter, like making streets clean, safe at night and fit for walking". The street was the main spokesperson at the launch of Living Streets' campaign, "Talk to me about streets".
Paving stones spoke of the policies that will get people walking once again, like slower speeds on local streets and shops within walking distance. Windows whispered of the aspirations people have for their streets while the tree recorded chance encounters beneath its boughs.
Even the street furniture was giving directions, while a lamppost demonstrated how well-directed white light can transform the night time environment for people walking by.
The street was alive, not just with the sound of music but with hints of what a lively, well-designed street can offer.
"Talk to me about streets" aims to get candidates talking about what they will do to improve streets and public space.
The journalist with her ear always pressed firmly to the ground, Polly Toynbee, was there to offer support: "The whole Living Streets campaign is brilliant. Now is when the politicians are pounding the pavement. If you are canvassing, you get to know your patch pretty well. Sometimes the streets can be uncomfortable, unpleasant, even threatening.
"But we really could have pleasant streets, with 20mph limits on most urban streets. Imagine if streets were designed for children, how brilliant they could be. Compulsory orders could be slapped on people who put up ugly buildings with no interest at street level.
"This is a campaign whose time has really come and election time is the best time to shout about it".
Eminent architect Sir Terry Farrell spoke of his "Space Positive Vision for London" – a paper to be launched shortly as part of the Living Streets Thinking Zone series. "We identify our lives from the place where we live – the gaps between the buildings. It is the spaces between that give us identity. So we should look very closely at these spaces – do they live up to the qualities we expect, or not?
"Buildings are designed, owned and managed. In contrast, spaces are like the luggage that gets lost because everyone thought someone else was carrying it".
He argues that "hazards or irritants to pedestrians are not simply the result of rogue individuals or companies fly-tipping or fly-posting in public space, but may arise from the activities or local or central government too, e.g. the presence of redundant street furniture, officially sanctioned pavement parking, disused telephone boxes or miles of guard railing".
With perfect timing, the campaign to get candidates talking launched on the very day Tony Blair announced the election date: 5 May.
