A TOWN council was attacked by Green Party members for installing a public bench it claims was designed to deter rough sleepers.

Former Green parliamentary candidate, Stuart Macdonald, said Witney Town Council should be ‘ashamed’ of itself after installing the bench – which is low and slanted at an angle – in a bus shelter during refurbishment work.

But leader of the council, Toby Morris, said the design is common and allows different people to use the shelter, including those with pushchairs.

The shelter, in Newland, was refurbished recently as part of a joint project between the council and Abingdon and Witney College.

It encourages businesses in the area to sponsor a stop, with the invested cash used for upkeep.

Once a sponsor is found, art students from the college create a unique design around the theme of Witney’s heritage, which appears on the shelter alongside the sponsor’s logo.

Upon seeing the refurbished shelter and new bench, Mr Macdonald, of the West Oxfordshire Greens, was unhappy.

He said: “Witney Town Council should be ashamed of itself.

“I wonder whether it will tell sponsors and the students of Abingdon and Witney College about the moral obscenity they are expected to decorate.”

Mr Morris hit back at the accusations and explained the reasoning behind the bench’s design.

He said: “Following requests from the public for seating at this bus stop the council included a seat in the refurbishment design, which I think is a fantastic project in partnership with Abingdon and Witney College.

“Seating of this design is common in bus shelters as it allows a number of different users to use the shelter, including those with push chairs.

“Given there wasn’t a seat in the shelter previously I’m not sure I see the logic in claiming the seat is to deter rough sleepers, and in any event if a rough sleeper was brought to our attention we would work with colleagues at West Oxfordshire District Council, which is the responsible authority.

“Our transport working party identified a need for bus stops and where possible we will look to provide them in an innovative way which adds to the character of our town.”