Concrete planters installed in high street improvements to be removed after cracks appear
Concrete planters which were installed as part of a spruce up of Redcar High Street could be removed after cracks were discovered.
The planters, which have seating at their base and include etchings which reflect Redcar’s association with Samuel Plimsoll in a nod to the town’s maritime history, were erected earlier this year and intended to enhance the look and feel of the town centre.
Public realm improvements, which have also included new high street paving, are being paid for by the Redcar Town Deal, a previous Government regeneration scheme, which is also funding a new library and leisure hub, among other projects.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has been told about £77,000 has been allocated towards the planters and their installation, but payment has been withheld to the contractor.
Council leader Alec Brown said the local authority had commissioned its own independent survey of the structures, which he wanted to see removed.
He said: “They are too big, but the final nail in the coffin has been the cracks now identified. But the cracking is my concern, god forbid something should happen, I would not want a child or anybody else being hurt.”
Cllr Brown also said the council had not been responsible for the planters with the scheme being overseen by a Town Deal board, which previously went out to public consultation over regeneration plans for the town.
On Facebook, Cllr Brown said in a reply to one resident: “Defective huge concrete squares are not what I want to be the future of our town.”
He also described it as a “debacle” and “beyond a joke”.
Facebook users described the blocks as “Soviet-era” style, “an eyesore” and “cold, hard and overbearing”.
The planters had attracted previous criticism from Councillor Dr Tristan Learoyd, who labelled them “ram raid protection units”.
He also said: “Pennies thrown at the high street on small-scale titivation will not put money in people’s pockets, improve the local economy, and see shops open.”
Coatham ward councillor Carl Quartermain said on Facebook: “The strength of feeling locally in Coatham from residents and businesses is very clear – they want rid of them.
“Most importantly, the issue that cuts through everything is the cracking that’s already appearing.
“That simply should not be happening.
“If these planters are found to be defective, they should be removed, not returned, and at no cost to the council or public funding.”
He also explained: “It has been confirmed that the issues identified are not isolated faults, but stem from a wider design and manufacturing defect affecting multiple planters.
“Importantly, responsibility rests with the contractor and their supply chain, and payment for the planters has been withheld.
“An independent structural surveyor has been appointed to assess the defects and advise on acceptable solutions.
“In the meantime, interim safety measures and enhanced monitoring are in place, with public safety remaining the priority.”
Photos show what has been described as a ‘ratchet leash’ wrapped around the blocks in order to keep them stable.