Basingstoke: New bank branded a ‘joke without common sense’

Bank, old man sits on the bench, old lady with purchases next to it.

The bench in Basingstoke, Hampshire, only fits one person (Image: Solent News)

A tiny ‘half bench’ was installed by a council and locals have already branded it a ‘joke’.

More than 100 people in Basingstoke, Hampshire, have previously signed a petition calling on Old Basing & Lychpit council to set up a bank outside of Tesco.

People wanted “a place of rest for those who may have difficulty walking the route from their homes to the shops and back”.

The council agreed, but it certainly wasn’t what the community had in mind, as some called it a “joke”.

The bench is ridiculously small and only fits one person.

Councilwoman Elaine Still said they decided on the size to deter rough sleepers and deter vandalism.

She told the Basingstoke Gazette: “The reason I wouldn’t agree to a full bench is that we can’t afford to have rough sleepers back.”

Pictured: A man sits on the tiny bench in Basingstoke, Hants while his wife waits to use it. A tiny bench installed for elderly residents to take the weight off their feet has sparked widespread outrage - because it's so small. The wooden seat has sparked controversy because it is only large enough for one person to sit on. Placed in front of a Tesco Express in an area with a large elderly population, the local community had requested a place for elderly people to rest after going to their local shop. But after a 100-person petition was served, Old Basing and Lychpit Parish Council installed the

Locals wanted the bench so people could rest after grocery shopping (Image: Solent)

Pictured: The Tiny Bank in Basingstoke, Hants. A tiny bench installed for elderly residents to take the weight off their feet has sparked widespread outrage - because it's so small. The wooden seat has sparked controversy because it is only large enough for one person to sit on. Placed in front of a Tesco Express in an area with a large elderly population, the local community had requested a place for elderly people to rest after going to their local shop. But after a 100-person petition was served, Old Basing and Lychpit Parish Council installed the

Councilors worried about Rough Sleepers and vandals (Image: Solent)

She added the bench was approved as a “compromise with the understanding that the seat is bolted to the floor and is virtually vandal proof due to previous instances of vandalism in that area”.

Martin Peer, 76, who lives in the area, said: “It’s insane to only have one seat. I can understand the argument if you have a bigger seat it seems to encourage people to sleep on it.

“I would think people wouldn’t want this.

“But we should make arrangements to allow people to sleep in appropriate places rather than being forced to sleep on a bench.”

The county council said it gave permission to the local council to select, purchase and arrange the seat of its choice.

Metro.co.uk has reached out to local council for comment.

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https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/12/basingstoke-new-bench-branded-a-joke-without-any-common-sense-18422216/ Basingstoke: New bank branded a 'joke without common sense'

Justin Scaccy

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