Unpopular artwork to be removed

The planters were part of a regeneration scheme for the area

Residents whose homes look out over Hartlepool's historic town wall have won their fight for a number of metal planters to be removed.

The nine sculptures were put up as part of a major regeneration scheme for that area of the town.

But local people complained they did not like them and felt they did not suit the area.

The council says it plans to relocate the planters to another area after consultation with the public.

The project was funded by the North Hartlepool Partnership, which is using money from regional development agency One NorthEast to regenerate the area.

'Listen more'

Following comments from residents, the Partnership and council have decided to remove the planters.

Hartlepool Council cabinet member for regeneration and planning, Councillor Steve Wallace said: "I don't think that, in this case certainly, we interpreted the information that we got properly.

"We knew that there were objections from people living close around although the wider population said they had no problem with the planters or the wider scheme and my own view is that we need to give proper weight to people who are directly affected by whatever a scheme is doing."

He said no artwork would ever get 100% support and it was a case of involving people early to find out what they wanted.

Headland Council and partnership chairman John Marshall said it needed to look hard at how it consulted.

He said: "Town people know best, they know what they want. They are very clever, they are very understanding, they love the place that they live in and we should listen to them more."