Stadium’s deteriorating seats wrapped in plastic

Plastic may be a global environmental problem but it’s also the temporary solution to Yarrow Stadium’s latest quandry.

Seats at the southern end of the stadium have been wrapped in plastic after rugby fans complained sitting in them left them with powdery marks on their clothes.

Taranaki Rugby Football Union commercial manager Geoff Hitchcock said the seats had started to oxidise and breakdown after years in the weather.

‘‘The plastic seats are eight years old so being out in the elements for that long, plastic starts to deteriorate basically and it was rubbing off,’’ Hitchcock said.

The TRFU and the New Plymouth District Council had been working to find a fix for the seats for months – they water blasted, wiped down, repainted and buffed the residue away – with no luck.

Hitchcock said covering them in plastic was only a temporary fix until the end of the season, with the plan to be review after each game due to wear and tear.

Hitchcock didn’t know if the plastic was recyclable and the NPDC has been approached for comment.

The degrading seats are the latest in a litany of troubles for Yarrow Stadium.

The East Stand was closed in November 2017 due to earthquake risk, and the West Stand followed at the start of June as a precaution for public safety after a geotechnical report found the ground underneath the stand was unstable.

But another problem at the stadium has finally been solved.

A custom-built cover for 2300 seats on the southern terrace has arrived from China.

It was meant to installed at the start of the season but Hitchcock said there were delays on delays.

‘‘Originally the delay was in the shipping as they’ve come from China, with some weather incidents, typhoons up around that way that delayed it,’’ he said. ‘‘And then we had some delays around getting it all signed off.’’

However, Hitchcock was happy they were finally in place – even if they’re not needed this weekend.

‘‘We just want to thank the fans for sticking with us, it’s been a challenging year,’’ Hitchcock said. ‘‘Hope everyone comes along, the weather’s looking great again for Saturday night.’’

‘‘Plastic starts to deteriorate basically and it was rubbing off.’’ Taranaki Rugby Football Union commercial manager Geoff Hitchcock

PHOTOS: ANDY JACKSON/STUFF Covered seating will be an option at tomorrow night’s Taranaki Bulls’ match at Yarrow Stadium for the first time since the main stands were closed due to earthquake risk.

Covering the seats in plastic is a temporary fix until the end of the season.