The first stretch of the reconstructed Douglas Promenade has opened - and the response has been, to say the least, mixed.

After delay after delay, and millions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash expended, the new-look Loch Promenade was opened, northbound, on Thursday evening.

There was a huge response to the story on our iomtoday website and Facebook pages, the latter attracting more than 320 comments over the weekend. Some posters focused on the red concrete corridor which appears to be various shades of faded pink.

Its purpose on Loch Promenade, where the horse tramway will eventually run on the seaward side of the road, is unclear.

Others questioned the narrowing of the carriageway and the finish of the road surface.

And many questioned the use of patterned green, grey and white paviours.

One reader said: ’The pink concrete seems pointless, faded and crumbling. Narrowing the carriageway is unhelpful if it causes more queues.’

Another said: ’I’ve worked there for the last two months - it hasn’t been pleasant and the pressure to follow the DoI changes in specifications was ridiculous.’

A third posted: ’We always knew we would be underwhelmed.’

And a fourth said: ’Can’t wait to see DoI come out and defend this, but it is just truly awful, looks horrid and the pink strip down the middle is just pathetic.’

’Well the public have spoken and how right they are. This is awful. Is this really what the tax payers are getting for all those millions?’ said another.

’Please tell me this is not the finished thing, not the reason we have been delayed for so long, not the reason we have spent long millions!’ said one poster.

Another said: ’Is that supposed to be the finished surface?’

Some were dismissive of the patterned paviours. ’Looks like the kitchen Lino floor pattern from my grandparents’ house in the 80’s,’ noted one reader on Facebook.

But there were positive posts too. One read: ’Compared to what was there before, I think they have done a good job. Could they have done better - absolutely, but that’s always going to be the case imo for any major works.’

On Facebook, one posted: ’I see all the naysayers and misery guts are out in force already.

’I think it looks great and a credit to the guys working long, long hours to get it done as soon as they can .

’Taking on a project like this was always going to be fraught with problems cos you cant see underground to see potential problems.’

That view prompted others to point out that they weren’t criticising the road workers.

One said: ’No issue with the hard working ground force.

’It’s the bureaucrats and politicians who planned, approved and finalised the design. Looks nice, but will it be practical? Still have some doubts, having used it tonight; but I’ll hold back on my final diatribe until it’s finished.’

Another replied: ’We should be allowed to say if we think its awful. How many times have they tried to "fix"the prom? How much has it cost us taxpayers over the years they have been doing this? Exactly how much and how long has it taken?’

Completion date for the project has been pushed back towards June from a revised end date of March 31.

The DoI insists finishing touches are still needed to the works on Loch Promenade. See the Manx Independent in the shops tomorrow.