Bathurst Regional councillors agreed to add $5000 to the 2015/16 budget for a feasibility study into the bench-seating proposal at Wednesday night’s meeting.

Cr Morse said the study will look at a number of factors to determine where seating is needed.

“What the $5000 would be for is to see where the pedestrians are coming from and where the best locations for seats are,” Cr Morse said.

Cr Morse, who lives in Piper Street, said she often sees elderly people walking past her house into town and believes many would benefit from having additional seating scattered around the CBD.

“There’s nowhere for them to sit ... they need seats in town where they can have a rest,” she said. 

“We need to look at what the older people want.”

Keppel, Lambert and Rocket streets towards Bentinck Street are among the areas Cr Morse said would benefit from having additional seating.

As well as elderly people, Cr Morse said young mothers would also benefit from bench seating.

She said if the study determines that a bench seat should be installed outside a home, “council will then contact the owner to see if it’s okay to go outside”. 

Cr Morse has called on public feedback on possible locations for bench seats.

“I’d welcome people’s feedback,” she said. “There’s no point putting in seats where people don’t want them.”

She asked people to call council on 6333 6111 or visit at 158 Russell Street to have a say on the topic.

Council can also be contacted via email at council@bathurst.nsw.gov.au.