By Jenny Barwise and Paul Crute

Last updated 11:50, Saturday, 24 May 2008

COCKERMOUTH residents and traders are in uproar over brightly coloured new seats that have been put up in the town’s historic Market Place.

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The seats, which are part of a £1.2million revamp of Market Place, are turquoise, pink, yellow and green.

But people have said they are too bright and are not in keeping with the Georgian town.

Town councillor and mayor of Cockermouth, Isabel Burns, said: “I knew the seats were going in but I didn’t expect them to look like that.

“They look like they are made from plastic. They look cheap.”

Cockermouth town and Allerdale councillor, Alan Smith, said he had been inundated with complaints.

He said: “The Cockermouth Partnership have really excelled this time, installing these four seating areas.

“They are completely out of character for the conservation area, and Cockermouth’s Gem Status.

“The town council has long complained about brightly coloured shop fronts in the town, and the conservation status.

“It seems as if they have run out of money, and these things are all they could afford. It spoils what has been done.

“I have been inundated with complaints, which range from complete disbelief to ‘are they having a laugh?”.

Richard Jojo, 56, owner of Original Barber Company said: “It is not in keeping with the nature of the area. The colour does not seem to match with anything.”

Barbara Morrison, assistant manager of Allerdale Court Hotel, said: “I do not think they promote Market Place that well. It could also attract young kids late at night.”

Phil Johnston, 48, of Challoner Street, and co-owner of Lily & Co said: “What they have done has spoiled Market Place a bit.”

However, Councillor Alan Kennon, a member of Cockermouth Partnership, said: “They are exactly what was on the drawings. They are bringing out the colours in the area and they will blend in.

“The drawings were in Neo’s Cafe for everyone to see. The colours were brighter than they are now.

“The idea is that they bring the place to life.”

Some local residents using Market Place this week gave their views.

Malcolm Mavin, 46, of Ennerdale Close, Cockermouth,said: “The new seating area looks awful. This is not Cockermouth, it is Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

“For what the Cockermouth Partnership has spent on this project they should have produced something that is in keeping with the town’s heritage because these pink and yellow seats do not fit in and I feel they demean the town.”

Jenny Clark, of Oaktree Crescent, said: “Some of the colours are okay, but in general they are not keeping in with the historic nature of the town.

“There could have been a slightly more sympathetic design. They are trying to be a bit too modern.”

But Debbie Taylor, 44, of Gilcrux, said: “It’s fantastic. The designers have really stuck their neck out and have been innovative.

“I disagree that they don’t fit in with Market Place. It is really contemporary and people need to realise it’s the 21st century.”