Broken benches making Bognor area look scruffy

Three of the damaged seats have been found by Alan Englefield. Most lack at least one of the slats which should form the seats.

"These benches have been like this for at least a year. Is it laziness, lack of funding or lack of observation which allows these benches to remain like this?" he asked.

The damaged benches can be found along Pryors Lane about 250 yards from Willowhale Library; on Nyewood Lane, opposite Elfin Mews; and on London Road between the police station and the town library.

Mr Englefield, of Ellasdale Road, said the bench on Pryors Lane still had a screw sticking up from when it held the missing plank.

Someone with bare legs who sat on it could be injured. The screw would also snag trousers.

The Nyewood Lane bench had been incomplete for three years, he claimed.

The ownership of the benches is unclear. Arun District Council said it believed the benches should be looked after by the county council.

The only exceptions were when it could be proved a seat was installed by Arun. But it could find no paperwork relating to the three benches highlighted by Mr Englefield.

An attempt would be made to hold a meeting with the county council to discuss the matter.

A county council spokeswoman said it was not responsible for the benches.