A council will review part of a £1million city renovation project – after a bench placed as a ‘resting place for the elderly’ was put facing a brick wall.
The seat is a part of a project to refurbish the traffic lights in Bristol city centre and to improve the pedestrian experience.
But the bench’s location has been criticised because it faces the wall and windows of a hotel.
In February last year Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, did not mention it as part of the project – meaning its appearance came as a suprise to many living in the city.
Ben Stephenson, a placemaking consultant at Bristol Urban Forum, said its positioning was ‘a curious decision’.
He added: ‘We view benches as social infrastructure – a moment of rest or contemplation, or a place to chat.
‘Doing this while staring at a brick wall is definitely less attractive.
‘There will likely be a reason for this decision, but it’s not clear to me why the bench would have been positioned like this and it would be better turned around to face views of our wonderful city.’
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee says that the bench has been positioned to offer a resting place for people, especially those who are older and disabled
The bench has come under scrutiny as the bench faces the wall instead of facing the city of Bristol
Facebook user Jubed Alam Khan questioned the positioning of the wall as he said: ‘The bench that’s facing the wall and the windows to the Hotel! This public seating is causing a lot of controversy at the moment.’
Paul Troy Cherry added: ‘This is like someone putting a toilet roll on facing the wall.’
Not everyone has been critical of the new art, with some stating that it is simply a bench for resting.
One Facebook user posted:’ To be fair, I didn’t realise that it was an alright view the other way. Bit odd they didn’t do it the other way. But no issue really – it’s a bench for resting.’
The St Augustine-the-Less Church used to stand where the bench has been place, but the place of worship was demolished in 1962.
Cllr Plowden said: ‘I was alerted to this concern by the local Green councillor, Sibusiso Tshabalala and having consulted with the project designer, we now know that the bench has been positioned to offer a resting place for people, especially those who are older and disabled, walking up the steep hill rather than a seat with a view.
‘It will benefit from shade provided by a tree that will be planted in the raised planter behind the bench.
‘Creating shaded areas and resting places for people walking is a vital part of our urban planning to help Bristol adapt to the impacts of climate change.
‘That said, we are going to keep this under review, and the positioning of the bench will be kept under review as standard before any scheme is finally signed off.’
Last year, residents in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, were confused by the unusual orange and maroon street furniture that ‘randomly’ appeared in the town.
The new seats were funded by the multi-million pound Future High Street Fund.
Residents voiced their confusion as they were having trouble figuring out what they were looking at.
Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, street scene and flooding, explained the seats were aimed at ‘revitalising town centres’.
