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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Pont des Arts love locks removed after Parisians lose affection for eyesore | Pont des Arts love locks removed after Parisians lose affection for eyesore |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| As far as Paris and padlocks are concerned, it’s the end of the affair. | As far as Paris and padlocks are concerned, it’s the end of the affair. |
| The French capital has had a definitive falling out with the estimated 1m “love-locks” that it says are threatening some of the city’s most historic monuments. | The French capital has had a definitive falling out with the estimated 1m “love-locks” that it says are threatening some of the city’s most historic monuments. |
| We still hope that Paris will remain the capital of love and romance | We still hope that Paris will remain the capital of love and romance |
| On Monday, workers armed with bolt cutters closed off the celebrated Pont des Arts over the Seine, where a railing collapsed last year under the weight of so many locks, and began breaking hearts around the world. | On Monday, workers armed with bolt cutters closed off the celebrated Pont des Arts over the Seine, where a railing collapsed last year under the weight of so many locks, and began breaking hearts around the world. |
| Parisian officials have had a turbulent relationship with the trend since it hit Paris in 2008. When the first dewy-eyed couples began declaring their undying love by writing their initials or names on a padlock, attaching it to a monument and throwing the keys into the River Seine, it seemed relatively harmless. | Parisian officials have had a turbulent relationship with the trend since it hit Paris in 2008. When the first dewy-eyed couples began declaring their undying love by writing their initials or names on a padlock, attaching it to a monument and throwing the keys into the River Seine, it seemed relatively harmless. |
| Since then, however, the locks have grown like metal barnacles over bridge railings, palisades, and parapets. Some have even been spotted on the Eiffel Tower. | Since then, however, the locks have grown like metal barnacles over bridge railings, palisades, and parapets. Some have even been spotted on the Eiffel Tower. |
| Lisa Anselmo and Lisa Taylor Huff, two Americans who live in Paris, had started a campaign to persuade the city authorities to clamp down on the locks. Their petition currently has more than 10,400 signatures. | Lisa Anselmo and Lisa Taylor Huff, two Americans who live in Paris, had started a campaign to persuade the city authorities to clamp down on the locks. Their petition currently has more than 10,400 signatures. |
| Anselmo told journalists she was thrilled by the decision to remove the padlocks. | Anselmo told journalists she was thrilled by the decision to remove the padlocks. |
| “I hope this is the beginning of the end for this destructive trend,” she said. | “I hope this is the beginning of the end for this destructive trend,” she said. |
| Local officials had tried to persuade visiting lovers to take selfies and post a digital declaration of love online, but were forced to admit the campaign was a failure. | Local officials had tried to persuade visiting lovers to take selfies and post a digital declaration of love online, but were forced to admit the campaign was a failure. |
| Paris city hall has denied being a killjoy. “This phenomenon gives rise to two problems: a lasting degradation of the heritage of Paris and a risk to the safety of visitors: Parisians and tourists,” it said in a statement. | Paris city hall has denied being a killjoy. “This phenomenon gives rise to two problems: a lasting degradation of the heritage of Paris and a risk to the safety of visitors: Parisians and tourists,” it said in a statement. |
| Bruno Julliard, a deputy mayor, said he hoped to kiss goodbye to such an “ugly” trend. | Bruno Julliard, a deputy mayor, said he hoped to kiss goodbye to such an “ugly” trend. |
| Related: Paris 'love locks' removed from Pont des Arts bridge – in pictures | |
| “We will cut away almost a million locks weighing 45 tonnes,” Julliard said of the Pont des Arts. He warned that similar measures would be taken on the nearby Pont de l’Archevêché, behind Notre-Dame cathedral, another stop on the path of true lock-love. | “We will cut away almost a million locks weighing 45 tonnes,” Julliard said of the Pont des Arts. He warned that similar measures would be taken on the nearby Pont de l’Archevêché, behind Notre-Dame cathedral, another stop on the path of true lock-love. |
| The Pont des Arts will be closed all this week while the locks are removed. To prevent their return, the authorities plan to install padlock-proof glass panels, which will also make graffiti easier to remove, after the summer. | The Pont des Arts will be closed all this week while the locks are removed. To prevent their return, the authorities plan to install padlock-proof glass panels, which will also make graffiti easier to remove, after the summer. |
| “We still hope that Paris will remain the capital of love and romance,” Julliard added. | “We still hope that Paris will remain the capital of love and romance,” Julliard added. |