The chessboard, which is apparently ‘wobbly’ and doesn’t come with any pieces, has been defended by Nottinham County Council, who called the structure ‘experimental’

Motorists have been left scratching their heads after a stone chessboard was installed in a car park at taxpayers’ expense.

The unusual addition, along with concrete seating, has appeared next to the pay-and-display machine in Winchester Street car park in Sherwood, Nottingham. It’s part of a £17 million project to transform car parks in Nottingham and Derby into E-Mobility Hubs, which will include EV charging points and bike racks.

But the chessboard, which has taken up a valuable parking space, has been branded a “waste of money” by residents and drivers.

Philip Towell, 53, who lives in Sherwood, visited the site with his 16-year-old daughter Coco. He said: “I took her to see it because we were passing, and it just looked ridiculous. With all the diesel cars and leaves lying around, it looks rubbish.

“It’s even wobbly, and I don’t think it’s safe. My daughter asked, ‘Where are all the pieces?’ It looks like something the council had lying around in a cupboard and decided to reuse.

“They should get Nottingham’s best chess players down here for a match – that might actually make it worthwhile. But honestly, it’s hidden away in a corner, and nobody seems to notice it.”

Amanda Riley, 54, from nearby Woodthorpe, also questioned the logic behind the installation. She said: “Who comes to a car park to play chess? You’re surrounded by cars, it’s noisy, and it’s freezing at this time of year. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Another local criticised the decision, adding: “It’s England – who’s sitting outside to play chess in the cold? And if you have to bring your own pieces, why not just bring a board and play in a café instead?”

The chessboard has also sparked backlash online, with one Reddit user commenting: “Nottingham City Council, which is bankrupt, installed this monstrosity in a busy car park. Who thought this was a good idea?”

Another wrote: “Nobody is going to touch that board for the next 1,000 years. There’s no planning or thought behind it.”

In response, Nottingham City Council defended the installation. A spokesperson said: “The chess tables can also be used as general seating – for having a cup of tea, feeding a baby, or reading a book.

“These projects are experimental and will be reviewed based on public feedback. If they’re unpopular, they can be removed – or, if they’re successful, we could add more in the future.”