Council deemed pranksters' comedy bench plaques offensive

Council officials have removed a series of comedy plaques put on a street benches - aimed at bringing a smile to shopper's faces. Pranksters made up the plaques to screw onto the shopping benches to liven up a city centre. But council officials removed the plaques after saying some people could be "offended" by them. The plaques were rigged up in Chester city centre by the mystery artists "in good grace and with no malice or thought of financial gain." But the seemingly random and light-hearted messages do have a serious undertone.



The pranksters aim to raise awareness about a proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which the council want to use to ban homeless people from hanging around in the city centre. One plaque says: "If you shut your eyes for more than 10 seconds whilst on this bench you may be deemed asleep, and risk facing an ASBO. By Order of Public Space Protection Orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014." And another says: "This bench is reserved for the young, beautiful and affluent. If you are old, ugly or poor please sit elsewhere."



Chester City Council say the plans would tackle anti-social behaviour in the city, but critics argue its an attempt to hide vulnerable people out of sight from shoppers and tourists. The pranksters called the plans "draconian" and said they would even prevent buskers from playing around the city. One of them, who did not want to be identified, said: "The PSPO aims to tackle anti-social behaviour in the City, but so far over 10,000 people have signed various online petitions against the proposals. "There are fears that such draconian plans would be used to target the homeless and socially vulnerable. For example the PSPO would make it a criminal offence to lie down in a public place or feed the swans on the canal.



"The plaque attack was all done in good grace and with no malice or thought of financial gain. We just hope the residents and visitors of Chester enjoy them while they can." But the council have not found the plaques as amusing as locals have, and have already taken them down. Maria Byrne, head of place operations for Chester Council, said removing the "offensive" pranks have put pressure on vital funds. Mrs Byrne said: "We have removed the plaques from the benches and although they may appear humorous, some people may find them offensive and it has cost the Council taxpayer money for officers to locate and remove them. If anyone knows who is responsible we would like to hear from them."