Ordinary street divides locals as bollards painted like CIGARETTES line the roads… with council dishing bizarre warning
'DISGUSTING' bollards painted to look like cigarettes have divided locals.
Three bollards have been repainted for a unique take on street art, complete with a gold stripe and orange top.
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Hythe Road, in Swindon is the home of three bollards which have been painted in white and orange to replicate the style of a cigarette.
The 'cigarette' bollards have divided residents, with some saying it is "funny" and others insisting it is "disgusting".
Others have said it is a "brilliant idea" and have thanked the anonymous artist for "making the area look a bit better".
One person said: "I probably would've preferred it not to be cigarettes if given the choice, but honestly it looks much better than it did when they were just bollards, so I'm all in favour of it."
Another added: "I hope they're allowed to stay as they are, it's a fun little joke and it isn't harming anyone.
"I would love to see more stuff like this happen all over town and hope that artists who want to use their time and resources are encouraged to do things like this rather than stopped."
A third person said: "Very funny, to be honest. Hope they stay."
While another added: "Disgusting."
Another was equally as disappointed by the design, saying: "Pathetic whose stupid idea was this."
Others were more positive, with one local writing online: "They say you can't polish a turd but in Old Town they certainly try!"
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Some locals have encouraged the person behind the transformation to keep their identity hidden.
A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: "We love street art in Swindon and this is certainly a very unusual choice of design.
"We don't want to stub out the flame of this artist's creativity, but the artwork obviously doesn't align with the efforts of our Public Health team to get people to quit smoking.
"We very much hope that passers-by who have kicked the habit don't develop old cravings, but, if they do, we'd encourage them and any other smokers to visit the Council's website and search 'Stop Smoking Services' for a range of advice and support."
Comments on the local newspaper website, the Swindon Advertiser, generally approved of the design.
One wrote: "Anyone else think it's just hilarious?"
Other locals praised the design for encouraging debate about the risks of smoking.
In response to those who were concerned about the health implications, one local resident wrote: "Come on, have a laugh now and then."
Others used it as an opportunity to comment on some of the issues affecting Swindon, with one suggesting the artist paint a syringe design next.
Some locals were eager to identify the artist, with one speculating whether it could be a Banksy.
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