Residents of Wigston, a town in Leicestershire, have voiced their strong discontent regarding the recent installation of a new Hollywood-style sign, which has been described by many locals as an extravagant misuse of public funds. The sign, which cost over £10,500, was erected as part of town centre improvement works and has sparked a heated debate over the allocation of resources by the Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.
A Freedom of Information request brought to light the significant expenditure on the sign, leading to complaints from residents who feel the funds could have been better spent on more pressing community needs. One local expressed their frustration, stating: "Who decided what to spend the money on? I don't recall any time the local residents were asked for their thoughts." Another resident called the expenditure an "absolute waste of our money."
Local MP Neil O'Brien has publicly condemned the council's decision, asserting that residents deserve more prudent spending of taxpayers' money. He remarked that the installation reflects the council's "weird priorities" and described the sign as a "wasteful" expenditure, especially in light of ongoing local issues such as the removal of rubbish bins and necessary upgrades to public amenities.
The council, in its defence, has argued that the installation is intended to foster a sense of local pride and identity. They explained that the sign, along with other improvements such as murals in the town centre, was funded via a grant obtained from the UK Government designated for town centre revitalisation. The council responded to criticism via social media, stating: "It's important to keep updating and improving public areas and town centres." They added that if they had not applied for the funding, the resources would have been allocated elsewhere.
Despite the council's rationale, many locals remain unimpressed. Concerns have been raised not only about the financial implications but also about the potential for vandalism of the sign shortly after its installation. Community members highlighted that other issues, like the unavailability of free parking and the urgent need for repairs on local facilities, should have taken precedence over such a large expenditure.
One resident lamented, "The local park has lost a bench, the skate park needs repair, and four rubbish bins have rotted away not to be replaced." They emphasised that while the sign may look appealing, its placement next to a now pay-and-display car park only serves to exacerbate feelings of discontent among residents.
The Oadby and Wigston Borough Council has yet to respond to further inquiries from MailOnline regarding the situation, as community backlash continues to grow over this contentious installation.
Source: Noah Wire Services