Why, Horsham Council, are you torturing us?

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls it is that time of year again. The weather's turned cold, the nights have closed in, the festive lights in the high street have gone up and the famous Coca Cola Christmas ad has been on multiple times (much to the annoyance of my sister). Christmas shopping time is officially here. So what does this mean for the oh-so-lucky residents of and visitors to Horsham town centre? Ah yes, the monstrosity that is the singing display in Swan Walk is back. Oh joy...not. And this year there's no Santa, no elves, no reindeer, no snowmen. No, this year we've got the pleasure of two singing bears. "Why singing bears?" I hear you ask. Lord knows what motivated them to choose this in particular. I mean the Santa last year was pretty awful but these things are just plain scary. The male bear in the green has an abnormally large head that wobbles precariously about on a teeny, tiny neck and eyes that shoot from side to side as if he's possessed. The female bear is little better but at least moves less. And the less said about the singing the better. Why do they put these things up year upon year? I mean children can't honestly find them entertaining. I'm 22 and it's going to give me nightmares (to an out of tune Jingle Bell Rock!) And I don't think it draws crowds into the centre to do shopping either. Now that I know it's there I am going to avoid going into Swan Walk as much as is humanly possible. Why, oh why, can't they just put up a nice Christmas tree? Have a nativity set (let's not forget that's actually what Christmas is about)? Or a nice snow scene? Why scary, singing bears?