'Rust bucket' planters split opinion in town

Metal planters installed in Penzance has been called a "ridiculous waste of time and money"

A mayor has robustly defended the installation of metal planters in a town's high street as part of traffic layout changes.

The work to transform Market Jew Street in Penzance started in July with the aim of making the area more pedestrian-friendly, but the multi-million pound project has been controversial.

Steel planters added to the area have faced criticism with one trader calling them a "ridiculous waste of time and money".

Stephen Reynolds, Penzance's mayor, has asked local people to "come back in a year" and judge the planters then.

The changes are part of Penzance's Town Deal with £21m being spent to transform the town centre with new crossings, green areas and traffic calming measures to make the area safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists.

The work has forced Market Jew Street to be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles from Monday to Friday between 07:30 and 17:00, with the measures set to stay in place until the end of November.

The planters are expected to be fully finished and planted up by December, but they have sparked a storm of controversy

It is the new planters which have attracted the most negative comments, with people labelling them as "coffins" along with "rusty sardine tins" and "rust buckets" on social media.

Lucas Lucas, who runs a vintage store in Penzance, said: "The planters are a ridiculous waste of time and money, they're just going to send a cascade of dirt and flowers down the street.

"I could think of a thousand ways to better spend the money."

Community litter picker Thomas Galea said the planters looked "hideous".

"They're just going to end up full of rubbish and the sharp edges are at shin height, they're a health hazard," he said.

'Got people talking'

Reynolds agreed the planters had divided opinion in the town, but defended the changes.

He said the rusty steel design had been chosen because of the maritime climate.

Reynolds added: "We had wooden planters down on the seafront and they disintegrated so we need something durable.

"I would say to the moaners give it a year and then judge them, but at least it's got people in the town talking."

Penzance mayor Stephen Reynolds has defended the changes being made in the town

Cornwall Council's roads contractor Cormac is completing the work to install the seven beds along Market Jew Street, but said it had faced supply challenges with granite material needed for the project.

Cormac said it was sorry for any inconvenience caused by the work, which it said had "not progressed as quickly" as anticipated.

"With the granite now on site, residents and businesses can see the progress we are making with the planters, crossings, kerbing and resurfacing," a spokesperson said.

"We anticipate the road will reopen by the end of November."