In Derby, a display of four illuminated Christmas presents have been ridiculed online and described as an embarrassing waste of money.
Taking to social media, people were describing the new Christmas additions as a “disappointment”, “ridiculous” and “dystopian.”
Derby City Council spent £112,000 on the replacement for the ice skating rink that it had in previous years, and say they were “disappointed” that some people had chosen to judge the presents before they are switched on and fully working.
Located in Derby’s Market Place, the presents were switched on on Friday 29th November. They were created by the same company that is behind the Tunnel of Light in Norwich, and displays in London’s Harrods department store and Paris’s Champs Elysees.
The display was quickly criticised, though the council say that the presents were still in the “installation phase” and therefore what the public were criticising was essentially still a “work site.”
Liam Statham wrote: “I love the dystopian Christmas vibe”, and George Hanton said it was the “most Derby picture ever.” Some comments were harsher, with JJ Tait saying:
“Pointless and a waste of money…all that space wasted on something pathetic…a lot of shoppers will be heading to Nottingham now.”
A spokesperson said:
“We are obviously disappointed that some people have chosen to judge the presents before they are finished and working but we fully expect that the attraction will be a huge hit with children and families once they are switched on.”
The presents cost about £80,000 to install, with a further £32,000 spent to cover programming, removal and storage. Once fully working, they will do a “synchronised light and music show.”
Ronnie Brown, managing director of Blachere Illumination, said it had combined technologies from its displays in Norwich and Bournemouth, both of which were “very well received”.
“This feature is still in its installation phase and considered a work site”, he added. “We are all very excited to see its progression from concept moving to commission.”
Image: BBC News