False economy

6.38.16pm GMT Sat 29th Dec 2007

Anyone who has installed natural floor tiles at home will know that the tiles must be sealed to prevent dirt and grease from getting into them. That should have happened to the tiles in the town centre.

In the rush to get the job finished - and to cut costs - we've been told this sealing was not done.

Evidence of this can be seen in the tiles surrounding the benches on the High Row. People sit on the benches to eat their sandwiches or takeaways. Used trays or food spills onto the tiles and leaves stains that are very difficult to clean, because the grease goes into the surface of the tile. It looks awful!

Not only that, but the Council have spent thousands of pounds on a new cleaning machine for the Pedestrian Heart: which wouldn't have been necessary if they hadn't tried to cut costs in the first place.

What a pity to spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tile sealer! The tiles surrounding all the benches, and anywhere people stop to eat, should be sealed before they get too bad to recover. The cost should be added to the Pedestrian Heart project.