Proposal for Public Seating

1.  Introduction

Johnstown is a thriving community of approximately 10,000+ residents, served by a busy shopping centre, 3 schools with 1,800+ students, and a range of local businesses and services. Despite this scale, Johnstown currently has no traditional public seating of any kind — not on any street, square, or public open space.

This proposal, prepared by Johnstown Tidy Towns, sets out the case for introducing a small number of well-designed public benches on a pilot basis. It addresses community concerns about antisocial behaviour head-on, outlines proven design solutions, and proposes a low-risk, reviewable pilot scheme as a first step.

2.  The Need for Public Seating

Public seating is not a luxury — it is a basic element of an accessible, inclusive, and healthy public realm. Its absence in Johnstown creates real difficulty for a wide range of residents.

Elderly Residents

For older people with reduced mobility, the ability to rest at intervals is essential to independent movement. Without seating, many elderly residents are effectively unable to walk our main street safely or comfortably. This is a public health and inclusion issue.

Young Families

Parents with prams and young children need somewhere to pause when out in the town. The absence of seating near the shopping centre means families cannot rest, feed young children, or simply take a moment — reducing the attractiveness and usability of the town for this important group.

School Students

With 1,800 students attending the local schools, there is a significant daily demand for outdoor seating near the school and town centre. Students currently have nowhere to sit outside at lunchtime or after school — a basic need that goes unmet.

The General Public

Beyond specific groups, public seating benefits everyone. It encourages people to spend more time in town, supports local businesses, creates a more welcoming atmosphere, and builds community connection. Towns without seating signal to residents and visitors alike that lingering is not welcome — the opposite of what a thriving community should say.

3.  Addressing the Concern: Antisocial Behaviour

The most frequently raised concern about public seating is that benches will attract antisocial gatherings, particularly by young people. Johnstown Tidy Towns takes this concern seriously and has researched it carefully.

What the evidence shows:

Research consistently finds that well-designed, well-located public seating reduces antisocial behaviour rather than encouraging it. Empty, inactive public spaces — not seating — are the environment in which antisocial behaviour tends to occur. Busy, well-used spaces with natural surveillance from passers-by are self-policing.

This is not a new or contested finding. Urban design professionals, public health bodies, and local authorities across Ireland and the UK have documented this effect repeatedly. The question, therefore, is not whether to provide seating, but how to design and locate it well.

Design Solutions

The following table outlines the specific design measures Johnstown Tidy Towns proposes to incorporate into any pilot scheme:

1

High-visibility locations

Bench positions on busy pedestrian routes ensure natural surveillance from passing residents and shoppers — the most effective deterrent to misuse.

2

Anti-misuse design features

Industry-standard armrest dividers and forward-facing orientation prevent lying down and reduce loitering. Proven in towns across Ireland.

3

Good lighting

All proposed bench locations will be selected with existing street lighting in mind. Well-lit spaces are actively used and passively monitored.

4

Youth co-design

Inviting local young people to help select bench locations gives them ownership of the space. Research consistently shows this reduces antisocial behaviour significantly.

A note on youth:

It is worth stating plainly: young people are entitled to public space in their own community. Students who attend our local school have nowhere to sit. Designing them out of our public realm is neither fair nor effective — it simply displaces any issues elsewhere. The approach recommended here instead gives young people a stake in the infrastructure.