Call for Torbay memorial bench price hike review

Torbay Council is being urged to think again over a controversial hike in the price of memorial benches in the bay.

Back in August the council came under fire for bringing in a tariff which outstrips the prices charged by neighbouring councils and even the London borough of Westminster.
The council says the charges help provide better benches that will last longer, but there has been opposition to what critics say is a ‘two-tier’ system.
People wanting to remember loved ones with a memorial bench have to pay up to £12,000 to put one in a premium location such as Babbacombe Downs or Torre Abbey Gardens. For that they get 25 years of maintenance, cleaning and replacements if the bench or its plaque are damaged beyond repair.
A 25-year deal for a bench in a less favoured location, such as Paignton seafront or Battery Gardens at Brixham, costs £8,000.
The council says the new benches being rolled out as part of the programme are not standard timber garden seats, but robust, high-quality ‘installations’ designed for busy parks and public areas.
Now two of the bay’s Liberal Democrat councillors, Swithin Long (Barton with Watcombe) and Mandy Darling (Tormohun) have tabled a motion calling for a re-think.
They point out that in the  South Hams a bench with plaque and maintenance costs £1,680 for 10 years. In Teignbridge people are charged up to £1,885 for installation and maintenance, with repainting every four to six years.
Westminster City Council charges £1,625 for 10 years in prime London locations.
The motion from the two councillors calls on Torbay to abolish its ‘two-tier’ zone system and review its charges. They want a 15-year sponsorship model with a consultation at the end of that period on renewal or maintenance.
They are calling for revised charges that are ‘affordable and reasonable’ while covering installation and maintenance costs. Their suggestion is between £2,200 and £2,400 for a 15-year bench sponsorship anywhere in Torbay.