The town centre structure – one of a set previously branded ‘coffins’ and ‘ash trays’ – was ‘badly dented’ according to one witness
06:00, 04 Jan 2026Updated 14:14, 04 Jan 2026
A van has crashed into new planters on Market Jew Street(Image: Thomas Ingham)
A van has crashed into and damaged newly-installed planters in the middle of a town in Cornwall.
The crash occurred about 1.30pm yesterday (Saturday, January 3) in Market Jew Street in Penzance. Traffic flow was also disrupted when the van got stuck on the planter after the crash.
Thomas Ingham, who witnessed the incident, said the van “badly dented the planter (and was) also blocking the road with buses or large vehicles.”
Photos taken by Mr Ingham showed the van wedged against the planter, with one edge of the structure appearing badly bent.
The planters have proved controversial since work to install them began in July.
The van was stuck after crashing into the planter on Saturday afternoon
Some people referred to them as “coffins” and “ash trays” on social media. “What a mess, a joke and waste of money,” another person wrote.
Volunteer gardeners had previously warned there would not be sufficient public money left over to maintain the planters once they had been constructed.
“We’ve gone over the detail of the proposed planting scheme and while we agree that they’d look great for a year (which they really would) they’d look pretty rubbish forever afterwards,” the Penzance Community Flora Group wrote on Facebook. Only a few months into its life, one planter already appears to require extensive repairs thanks to Saturday’s incident.
The van dented part of the planter
Reaction to the planters has not been universally negative. Another Facebook user said: “They’re great, will look very nice with plants in, will give town centre a fresh, forward looking feel for visitors and locals I do own a business on MJ St and I get thoroughly sick of everyone moaning whenever something is done to try and improve Penzance. We’re on the up, embrace and support this!”
The planters were installed as part of the £6.1m Sustainable Travel Network project from the Penzance Town Deal programme, with Cornwall Council looking to “transform travel in and around the town, creating a fully sustainable network of safe and accessible walking, cycling and functional green and open urban spaces”.
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