Your article (page 3 Echo 4th April) refers to the public seating in Southampton as anti-homeless.

The benches, with dividers, have been in place for years, and as for Eastleigh resident Miss M Jenkman saying “the elderly” find them difficult to use is rather patronising.

Being of that age group and needing to rest every now and again I find the arms to be an absolute boon in assisting me to stand.

Why is it that whenever a particular cause is mentioned, the elderly and infirm are brought into the equation to try and further the argument?

Leave the seats alone - they are smart, clean, purposely made that way and functional.

Michael Clements

Totton

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