WALKERS on the seafront at Mudeford have been wondering what's afoot after a number of benches were removed by the council over the winter.

With only three of the original eight seats remaining on the promenade at Avon Beach, regular strollers, many of them elderly, now have fewer places places where they can sit and take the weight off their feet.

Mudeford resident Ted Marchant said: "When I spoke to the council about it they said the seats were only donated for a fixed period and then removed but there was a waiting list of people wanting to have a seat in memory of someone.

"It seems incredible with the holiday season coming and a lot of elderly residents and visitors that the bases remain but the seats have not been replaced."

Christchurch council spokes-woman Julie Ratcliffe said the fact that the benches were memorial seats was one of the reasons for the delay in replacing them.

She said: "They are removed for a number of reasons, such as safety, vandalism or they are worn out. We then have to contact their sponsor to see if they wish to continue the sponsorship. If so, they are replaced.

"If they do not wish to continue, we have a waiting list of people who would like to have a seat in memory of their loved ones.

"We write to the person at the top of the list and give them time to respond. If they do not respond, we go to the next person.

"Once a sponsor is found the seat has to be purchased, a plaque engraved and the seat installed. All this has to be handled with sensitivity and it all takes time."

First published: May 24