About to replace washing line post - Socket collects water

We had a washing line post for years that has just succumbed to rust and I'm about to replace it. The post sat inside a metal socket, that in turn is embedded in concrete, so the posts just slotted in.

The problem is the sleeve is a fair bit wider than the post and has always collected water. Should I consider sealing after I put the new post in? If I get a galvanised post instead of cheap one from Argos (https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8501415) would that prevent it rusting again? Just wondering what the best course of action is.

The old post looks like shiny stainless steel rather than galvanised, as far as I can tell.

Londoner said:

The old post looks like shiny stainless steel rather than galvanised, as far as I can tell.

Click to expand...

Stainless steel shouldn't have rusted, but it (or aluminium) may have succumbed to electrolytic corrosion.
Any chance you could drill a drainage hole down through the socket and concrete?

Your Argos link says the central pole is PVC, which will not rust.