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Camden News - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published:26 March 2009

‘Don’t get too comfy on your new bench’ estate’s tenants told

TENANTS living on a Camden Town estate have been told their new communal seats have been deliberately designed not to be “too comfy”.
Instead of traditional benches, the council has installed hard concrete blocks in the grounds of the Ampthill Square estate.
The minimalist design has surprised residents who were hoping a wider overhaul of their estate would give them somewhere comfortable to sit on warm days.
A contractor’s report – seen by the New Journal – confirmed there were “conflicting objectives” but that a part of the design brief was “to deter people from getting too comfortable on the seats”.
The report said historic drug dealing and anti-social drinking meant the seats could not be attractive for long stays.
Paul Tomlinson, who lives on the estate and sits on the project’s steering group, which is meant to gauge residents’ opinion, said: “It is difficult to believe that the seats are disabled-compliant because there is no way a disabled person could have any leverage to sit or stand up. Also, the concrete is a very cold surface to sit on, which could affect some illnesses.”
He added: “The steering group in no way has contributed to the design brief described. To me the assumptions are all wrong. No tenants could have imagined seating that would not accommodate the elderly that live on the estate, and these seats do not.”
Liberal Democrat housing chief Councillor Chris Naylor said: “I’m not aware of these concerns. We have spent a lot of money on the estate and it is encouraging that this project is coming on. Our aim is to make the estate as pleasant as possible for residents so if residents do have concerns I would be happy to meet with them.”

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