THE removal of tables and chairs outside Warwick Town Hall had Mayor Ron Bellingham up in arms at this week’s general meeting.

In his absence at the Engineering Committee meeting last week, councillors unanimously voted to get rid of the chairs and tables because they had been vandalised and monopolised by groups of young people in the area.

But Cr Bellingham was in no doubt.

“I have a very strong opinion on this,” he told his fellow councillors.

He recommended the furniture be fixed up and put back “where it belongs”.

“I go back to my youth and I stood at the other side of the street because there was nowhere to sit, and that’s where the girls were.

“Nothing has changed. I’ve dealt with these young people and different young people over the years. Once you actu- ally speak to them they are no different to my children.”

Cr Jo McNally was adamantly against the mayor’s line of thinking.

“It’s an absolute eyesore, it’s disgraceful and dirty,” she said.

Round the table, councillors were happy with director of engineering services Peter See’s suggestion the benches could eventually be replaced, with Cr Ross Bartley saying any new furniture would need to be “virtually bulletproof” to stop youths from wrecking it.

The motion was put to take the tables and chairs away for now.

The motion was carried despite the mayor’s disappointment.