AFTER continued mis-use of the benches in Holsworthy square, the town council has decided to remove them with a view to replacing them in the New Year writes Zoë Uglow.

The benches have circled the water pump for more than 20 years, but over time they have been mis-treated and have become worn and tired.

The decision to remove them came at the town council’s monthly meeting — councillors agreed it was in the best interest of the town to remove the benches on safety grounds.

Holsworthy mayor Cllr John Allen, said: “It is disappointing that because of continued mis-use of the seating around the pump in the town square we have had to take the decision on safety grounds to remove them.

“We have had the seats repaired several times and it has now become uneconomical to repair them.

“It is our intention to replace the benches in the New Year and it is hoped that the cost of this can be raised through donations.

“The seats are a popular resting place for both visitors to the town and local people and it is hoped that once they are replaced people will try to discourage their mis-use in the future.”

Many of the benches are missing arm-rests and several slats have been broken or simply removed.

The hope is that once the new benches are installed residents in the area will again have the popular resting site back and that future mis-use will be discouraged.

To make this happen, sponsorship will be needed in order to help reduce costs.

Town council clerk Vanessa Saunders wanted to reassure those with concerns about existing memorial and donation plaques that these would be retained even if new sponsors came forward

She said: “The first step will be to remove the old benches but we will of course save any memorial or donation plaques that have been placed on them.

“The mayor, Cllr Allen, is keen to replace the benches as soon as possible, so any local business sponsorship would be great.”

The town council is appealing to local businesses to support it in the replacement of the benches by offering them the chance to sponsor one.

If a local business sponsors a bench they will have their own plaque placed on it, alongside the existing ones, and will have helped to restore the town square’s seating to its former glory.