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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Claire Harrison & Tim Hanlon

Shoppers slam 'radical' artwork in town centres as a 'complete waste of money'

New "radical" artwork in town centres has been blasted as a "complete waste of money" with one person saying it looks like "a fence kicked over by vandals".

Others have called the new structures in Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres as "eyesores", reported CoventryLive.

Warwickshire County Council has championed the £350,000 project for the "street interventions" with the aim of breathing new life into the areas.

But their appearances in Church Street, Nuneaton, and All Saints Square, in Bedworth, has prompted bemused comments.

Many people have taken to social media to give their opinions - including many who have vented their irritation.

They are two of seven installations across the county, meaning that if each one is worth the same amount, they cost £50,000 each to create.

The county council said the Warwickshire-wide project is a "radical move" to reinvigorate the use of public spaces such as town centres and parks in the wake of the pandemic.

But not everyone agrees with questions raised about the spend of the project.

One person wrote that the structures will quickly fall apart.

"Give it a week until the angle grinder comes out, because some wally falls off it and it is declared dangerous. No one asked for this. A complete waste of money," he said.

Another stated: "Would have been better using natural materials that were more sympathetic to the surroundings rather than what looks like environmentally unfriendly plastic. Agree it looks like a children’s play area!"

And there were many people who felt that the money could have been spent better.

"Almost 350 grand for that eyesore and there's elderly folk in the area struggling to put their hot water on because of this energy crisis.!!! Total waste of money as per. We're led by friggin idiots," said one.

Another wrote: "Well what else could we possible want. Not like we need shops or anything."

Agreeing, one user said: "Could have spent money on clearing rubbish and tidying flowerbeds. The phrase neither use nor ornament comes to mind."

As for the art installation in Bedworth, a person claimed: "Looks like a fence kicked over by vandals."

And another person wrote: "Money could of been spent better like sorting out the status of the pavement in Bedworth and a better grounds contract as glendale as Bedworth a mess with ova (sic) grown bushes grass etc."

The Mirror has contacted Warwickshire County Council for comment.

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