Tribute bench is taken away after damage

By roger houldcroft roger.houldcroft@thepostandtimes.co.uk

A BENCH donated to Uttoxeter in memory of a well-known family from the town has now been dismantled after suffering weather damage.

The seat dedicated to the Stevensons – which sat on the bus station in Bradley Street – was removed on Monday for health and safety reasons after becoming unstable.

It had only been installed a year ago after being paid for and shipped to the town by Basil Stevenson, of Ontario, in Canada.

He sent the gift in memory of his late grandparents, John and Mary Stevenson, who were behind an iconic yellow bus service that transported passengers for eight decades in the Uttoxeter area.

The removal of the bench has sparked anger among bus passengers, who had been grateful for having a place to sit.

Philip Measures, aged 60, of Lark Rise, Uttoxeter, said: "I am absolutely shocked it has been reduced to rubble.

"It must have cost a lot of money to ship it over here.

"It's disgusting that this has been allowed to happen."

Tony Davies, aged 72, of Rocester, said: "Presumably it was damaged by vandals, which is an absolute disgrace.

"I can't understand why people these days can't respect things which have been so kindly donated."

East Staffordshire Borough Council said the deterioration of the bench was due to the weather.

It said there was no option but to have it removed in the interest of public safety.

But officials hope the seat will be reinstalled soon.

A spokesman added: "During the summer of 2009, East Staffordshire Borough Council was asked by Uttoxeter Town Council to give approval to install a commemorative bench in Uttoxeter bus station donated by the Stevensons family.

"During the harsh winter months, the concrete legs and sides of the bench started to deteriorate, making it unsafe for the public to use.

"The bench was temporarily removed on Monday at the request of Uttoxeter Town Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council are storing it until suitable repairs are made.

"It is expected that the bench will put back to its original position as soon as possible."

Town councillor Martin Blencowe, a chartered engineer, had inspected the bench to establish whether the damage could be repaired.

He said he believed the seat could be fixed, but for safety reasons it needed to be dismantled for now.

Mr Blencowe added: "The bench was improperly fitted in the first place, but it should be quite easy to repair.

"I think the wrong action was taken in completely removing it as only one side was damaged.

"I hope it will remain stable when it is put back."

John Stevenson sold his farm at Fole in 1926 to buy two former U.S. school buses and set up Stevenson's in Spath.

The father-of-seven eventually sold the business to his son George, whose final journey was in one of the firm's vehicles.

Basil, who moved to Canada in the 1950s, said, at the time of announcing the donation: "The plan is to give to the town of my birth a park bench as a monument to my grandparents and other family members."