New memorial benches banned in town after its ‘overwhelmed’ by 275 of them
A council is the first in the UK to ban memorial benches over claims they are ‘overwhelming’ a town.
The move comes after complaints from locals saying the benches cause an obstruction for people with pushchairs and wheelchair users.
Hartlepool Borough Council carried out an audit into the tributes and discovered there were 275 memorial benches in the town.
The Labour-run authority has now halted future applications for memorial benches, and the council has suggested grieving families plant trees in honour of their lost loved ones instead.
Locals are split over the decision to ban future memorial benches from being placed in the town.
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Daniel Matthews, 40, said his family had dedicated a bench to their grandmother, which was in the Headland area of the town.
He said: ‘My mum and dad had a bench put up in memory of my nan, who loved to look out to sea when she was alive.
‘It was a nice place to sit and pay tribute to her, but the bench started falling apart and eventually had to be removed. I don’t think it’s fair for the council to say Hartlepool has too many of these benches.’
But a mum, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It’s a pain to be honest, having to almost slalom the pushchair around all these benches when I’m taking my toddler out.
‘Lots of these benches don’t just have a plaque either, there are sometimes photos and flowers and teddies. They’re becoming like graves rather than somewhere for people to sit on.’
The future ban also threatens the profits of Teak Garden Furniture in the town, which specialises in building memorial benches.
Owner Karl Barowsky said: ‘Many councils operate waiting lists or limit new applications due to high demand for memorial benches.
‘That demonstrates how important they continue to be to families. When thoughtfully planned and positioned, memorial benches can sit comfortably within public spaces.
‘They support reflection, wellbeing and everyday community use, and they can enhance parks and town centres rather than detract from them.’
Barowky said that with clear guidelines and sensible management, remembrance and shared public spaces can work together.
He added: ‘It’s very frustrating, if you go to Hartlepool town centre, there are benches there that have been there for years that need replacing.
‘People will pay £400 for the bench, quite happily. I just don’t see the problem.’
The council revealed the Headland had 115 benches, followed by Seaton Promenade with 112 and Ward Jackson Park with 48.
It said it had also found several benches, which are not the responsibility of the local authority, in a poor condition.
Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of the Housing, Growth and Communities Committee, said: ‘We understand that our communities want to commemorate and remember loved ones, so we acknowledge that this is a very sensitive issue.
‘However, concerns regarding the proliferation of memorial benches were voiced by several residents during public consultations relating to conservation areas in Seaton Carew and the Headland, and a subsequent audit found a significant number of benches – particularly in these two areas but also in other parts of the borough.’
Councillor Oliver said many of the benches have fallen into disrepair, with others blocking pushchairs and wheelchairs.
The council has also faced difficulties in removing litter, cleaning and weeding paths because of the high density of benches, she said.
‘I want to reassure people that we have no plans for the mass removal of benches and this is very much the beginning of a process to look at how this situation can best be addressed and, moving forward, managed appropriately,’ she said.
In the meantime, new applications for memorial benches have been paused until ‘suitable arrangements’ have been agreed.
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