A Middlesbrough Council scheme aimed at deterring antisocial behaviour has sparked debate amongst local residents.
Benches on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough have been removed over the past month to prevent anti-social behaviour.
A spokesman for the council said: “The area was characterised by high levels of antisocial behaviour including street drinking, which took place on and around the benches.”
They say that removing the benches will deter problematic groups from gathering around a focal point.
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“We work closely with Cleveland Police which has increased its presence in the town centre,” he added.
The spokesman said the council’s neighbourhood safety wardens regularly patrol hotspot areas and specialist officers are working to build cases against prolific offenders and ban those causing issues from the town centre.
Tracy Watson, a Middlesbrough resident has raised concerns about the removal of the benches and the effects they will have on certain groups of people.
She said: “My 92-year-old mother-in-law needed to sit down and there was nowhere for her to go. She had to ask in Lloyds Bank to have a seat.
“She was told the reason why there is no seats anymore is because people who are intoxicated or drug reliant are using them and congregating in large groups causing obstruction and being abusive. Such a shame.”
The council advise that there are lots of alternative benches and seating available across the town centre. Areas such as Captain Cook Square, the Newport/Corporation crossroads and seating areas inside shopping centres.
Lucy Griffiths, another resident of Middlesbrough named the plan as “sickening” and an “anti-homelessness” project.
Another Middlesbrough resident who commented on a Facebook post claims the council have “screwed over” residents because of a few people.
“What are we actually paying the police and council for? To take things off us and not do anything about certain others, might as well chuck my money down the toilet,” they said.
