New bench in Winchelsea

The parish council has received a letter from the Winchelsea Garden Society (signed by a Mrs Cynthia Feast) objecting to the new bench that has been installed by the council by the parish noticeboard in the centre of Winchelsea and demanding that the old bench be reinstated. The Garden Society claim that the old bench was theirs, despite having previously disclaimed all responsibility.
But even if the old bench was theirs, why should sensible and mature people want to replace a new and well-designed all-wood bench with an old and deteriorating metal-and-wood bench that was, to be frank, out of character with the area? As ever in Winchelsea, the object of a public argument is but a cover for personality politics, and some people appear happy to cut off their nose to spite their face.
This is not the first time that the bench has caused controversy. Cllr Sutton of Winchelsea Beach (still smarting from having been reported by Winchelsea councillors for having repeatedly failed to declare conflicts of interest) tried quite recently to block the installation of the bench on the grounds that replacing the old bench was an insult to the memory of the gentleman to whom it was dedicated (notwithstanding that the dedication plaque is being transferred) and even dug up a distant relative to write an incensed letter of objection (despite the new bench having been approved by the immediate family).