Vandals hit Next Wave benches

The benches were recently installed as part of Rother District Council’s seafront Next Wave regeneration scheme.

They were due to have new remembrance plaques put on them, which RDC arranged by working with families who had dedications on the old seats.

The council spoke with each family to ensure new plaques meet requirements but says the damage will now mean delay of several weeks.

The criminal damage also has a knock-on impact to the tax payer as the council will have to foot the bill, a Rother spokesman said.

Project sponsor Cllr Christopher Starnes said: “It’s incredibly insensitive of these vandals. 

“Criminal damage is never acceptable, but to do it to a memorial bench is especially mindless.

“We will work with our colleagues in the police to catch the culprits and Rother officers will be monitoring the site very closely from now on.

“Despite this incident, the project remains on budget and on schedule, with the majority of memorial donors very happy with the solutions that have been found for them during this process.”

Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Council on 01424 787000.

ABOVE AND BELOW: Two of the vandalised benches