A ‘MISUNDERSTANDING’ led to benches meant for the elderly being put in at a height only suitable for children.

The Darton East ward alliance commissioned a community benches project to replace 11 old and dilapidated seats with new tubular steel ones at a cost of almost £11,000 following complaints from locals they were unfit for use.

It was specifically intended to give elderly residents a place to rest while ‘tackling the many hills’ within the ward and also provide respite for those with breathing difficulties who find the local terrain difficult.

The recommended optimum height for a seat is about 17 inches but an apparent ‘misunderstanding’ between the council and the provider resulted in some benches being put in with seats 14 inches off the ground and one was just 12 inches high.

It was brought to the council’s attention by residents after testing them out - only to find they struggled to get up off them.

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle