By Geoff Fisher 
As a Reepham resident of advancing years, I have been monitoring with dismay the length of time that the bench by the bus stop on the Dial House side of the Market Place has been missing.
Eventually, I emailed the town clerk to ask when the bench might be returned. I received the following response: “The bench was removed by the gentleman who damaged it, for repair. I will chase it now.”
Bearing in mind that the bench has been absent for almost six months, I was astonished to be told that the member of the public responsible for the damage was permitted to take it away and fail to return it.
I was under the impression that the town council is responsible for the maintenance/upkeep of the benches in the Market Place.
I am sure I am not the sole resident who has mourned the loss of this bench over the past months and am appealing to whomever is responsible to reinstate it.
Ruth Buley, Bircham Road, Reepham
A bench, similar to the one above pictured in 2021, has been missing from the Market Place for six months. Photo: Hugh Ivins