Furious residents have slammed a 50ft sign for the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Cannock – with one claiming it looks like an alien!
We revealed the first image of the towering Las-Vegas style advertising tower yesterday, which shows it looming over the local skyline.
The huge totem pole has now been slammed for being an “eyesore” and a “blot” on the landscape.
(Image: Gary Dorrington)
More than 400 people posted comment on BirminghamLive’s Faecbook page – and most were not fans.
Slyvia Lowe said: “Take it down. It looks like an old mining pit tower. Definitely a blot.”
Lee Ellitot added: “I’m a sign maker and I don’t think it should be put up behind people’s homes, looks like an eyesore, potentially reduce the value of your home or the likelihood of selling it. I wouldn’t want to buy a house with that towering over my back garden.”
(Image: Birmingham Live Facebook page)
Eileen Bora said: “Thought it was an alien from War of the Worlds.”
Roger Ball added: “It looks like they spent millions on the outlet and ran out of money for the sign so knocked one up with the bits leftover.”
The huge £160 million outlet has been dubbed the ‘Bicester Village of the Midlands’, and is due to open in 2021.
On Facebook, Linda Ball said: “I thought as outlet looks so lovely with a charming character that the signage would reflect it! Each to their own I suppose bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.”
Others found the funny side.
Mark Billington humorously commented: “Blot on the landscape? Are you sure you’re not confusing the sign with Cannock?”
Paddy Birch added: “Get a grip….it’s just a sign. I can see it from my back garden and doesn’t bother me at all…..just the moan brigade going off on one.”
(Image: Birmingham Live Facebook page)
Martyn said: “Amazing that these people have this fantastic new facility within easy walking distance of their own home and what do they do, they moan about it.”
The new designer outlet complex is being built in two phases.
Phase one will see more than 80 sought-after premium and luxury brands – offering year-round savings of up to 60 per cent – open up shop plus a selection of restaurants and cafés, 1,400 car parking spaces, a children’s playground, bike parking for cyclists and provisions for shoppers arriving by coach.
The second stage will start soon after and, on completion, the centre will span a total of 285,000 sq ft of retail space with a whopping 130 stores.
