A CONFLICT of opinion has broken out over eye-catching new seats and benches that have been constructed on Minehead seafront.
The radical designs are part of the £2 million seafront facelift with money from an EU grant - but opinions were being voiced almost as soon as the work began.
The metal structures have been branded "monstrosities" but West Somerset District Council has defended the work.
There are currently three huge coloured tube structures on the front, which have been likened to submarines, with seats jutting out from the sides.
Near to Jubilee Gardens, an arrangement of raised stones is topped with letters spelling out the name Minehead .
Although intended as somewhere for visitors to rest, this week they were being used as picnic tables as well.
Town Cllr Martin Snell, pictured, said: "I just cannot believe this was allowed to go through. The big round things behind the seats look actually like septic tanks and are awful.
"The whole thing is just so tacky and horrendous that it has left me flabbergasted.
"Minehead has just started to settle down after the seafront enhancement scheme and all the work that went into it and now these monstrosities have been plonked down.
"I have tried ringing the district council to try to see who is responsible for the ugly things but no-one seems to be taking responsibility."
Cllr Snell said he had received countless telephone calls from disgruntled residents and people had stopped him in the street to air their disgust at the work.
The first of the constructions was put in place at the end of last week with the bulk of the work continuing over the weekend and into this week.
West Somerset District Council spokesman Norman Staples said:
"Everything creative is a question of personal taste but I went down this week to have a look and the seats appeared popular.
"It does not detract from the elegance of the seafront but actually enhances it and the tubes will act as good wind breakers from the cold wind of winter.
"I saw many people sitting on the seats. Others were asking the workmen questions and kids were running their hands all along them because they do look similar to boats and they relate that to the sea."
This is not the first time Minehead seafront furniture has come under fire. The much-delayed Italian lighting also turned out to be not everyone's cup of tea.
Photo: Steve Guscott