Council's £1.200 bench

7:00am Saturday 5th July 2008

CASTLE Point Council has defended spending £1,200 on a bench saying it's vandal proof.

The bench, which is made recycled material, is to be put outside Canvey library.

A member of the public, at a neighbourhood meeting, questioned why so much money was being spent. He said: "Where are you getting it from and are they made of gold?"

Alan Longford, corporate director for communities, said if they had spent just £400 on a standard bench it would not have stood the test of time.

He insisted the cost of replacing it time and again would have made it more expensive in the long run.

He added: "It's vandal proof. The bench is made from recycled material and is also fire proof. They are resistent and will last a long time."

More than £20,000 is being allocated to the Canvey East neighbourhood for the next year, with around £5,000 to be spent in each of the three wards and an extra £5,000 carried over from last year's budget.

Money is already being spent on the bench at the library and £320 on bedding plants for Furtherwick Road, outside Furtherwick Park School.

Just £40 is being spent on painting the planters and on re-painting the planters at the seafront.

The work will be carried out by the Probation Service.