Saltash ‘Happy to Chat’ bench removed after vandalism

If you’ve walked up St Stephens Road from Saltash town centre lately and gone to take your usual breather, you might have noticed something missing.

A public bench on St Stephens Road in Saltash has been vandalised so badly that it was beyond saving. Saltash Town Council has now removed it and reported the incident to the police.

A resting point that mattered

This was not just any bench. The council says it was well used, particularly by older members of the community who relied on it as a place to stop and catch their breath on the climb up from town.

It was also one of Saltash’s ‘Happy to Chat’ benches, part of a scheme designed to reduce loneliness and encourage friendly conversation between neighbours. You can find out more about the Happy to Chat benches, including other locations, on the council’s website.

The bench was installed by Saltash Town Council and funded in partnership with Cornwall Council, using money from the Town Council’s Community Chest.

The wider cost

In its post, the council made the point that damage like this does more than remove a useful object. As they put it, vandalism “not only removes valuable community assets, but also places unnecessary pressure on public funds that are intended to benefit everyone.”

The council has acknowledged the loss will be felt by many. It’s asking residents to help look after shared spaces by reporting any damage or anti-social behaviour they come across, with details on how to do that included in its post images.

So the next time you spot something out of place in one of Saltash’s public spaces, a quick report might be what keeps the next bench standing.