Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#1
The following is from Facebook about the closure of the Fountain........
"Chris J Precious
The Town and District councils have long been aware of the desire for a water feature in Market Square, matched with a need for one that was less susceptible to constant vandalism. Negotiations for a fountain similar to the Folkestone model are still going on as the format has the dual advantages of being an attractive (and fun) feature while allowing the area to be used as a platform for events in the square. For this year there will be a floral feature to celebrate the Queens 90th birthday on the site. This will be on a solid frame that can be moved and replanted for future use, it will be installed as soon as technical difficulties are sorted. The original £10k was a budgeted and can still be budgeted to the fountain, in line with our ambition plan, as soon as the project can be progressed.
Jan Higgins
Chris, Surely negotiations should have been completed by now as the fountain was supposed to be got rid of last year. The fountain should really be up and running by the first day of spring or whenever the first cruise ship arrives, after all it is supposed to be a tourism feature.
Chris J Precious
Unfortunately these things often take a lot longer than any of us would like. On the plus side there are now new funding streams (especially one for Coastal Towns regeneration) that are becoming available and which Town Team, DTC, DDC and others are actively pursuing.".......
I think the various groups have had enough time to get this sorted.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
Am I reading this right?
We will have no fountain this summer but a flower feature instead?
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#3
There will be a privet hedge on a frame in the shape of a crown to celebrate the Queen's birthday but I was under the impression that it would be in Pencester Gardens.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,261
#4
Surely keeping the fountain as is until work is ready to commence is the best option, we are being fobbed of with town council drivel yet again.
Arte et Marte
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#5
Peter
Maybe the crown will eventually get planted in Pencester Gardens if it survives the vandals.
Howard
That is what it looks like, maybe Peter has more knowledge.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
We were told on here about 3 years ago by Watty himself that the fountain was coming to the end of its life and no more money would be spent by DDC on it once it broke down again. The plan then was that the Town Council would use some of their money to replace it with a water feature. So as things stand our visitors will not be able to do the usual thing of photographing each other in front of the fountain with the castle in the background. Incidentally how do we know it is broken?
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#7
How can a fountain be at the end of its life for gods sake,its hardly mechanical is it?A pump and water jets and a bit of concrete.I cant believe what i hear at times. I look forward to our temporary portable privet hedge on its framework.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#8
Bearing in mind with money and space limitations we would not have anything approaching the Folkestone water feature but took the liberty of e mailing the manufacturer to ask what the equivalent would cost today. Many thanks for the prompt reply.
Dear Howard,
Thank you for your e-mail. You haven't provided much information, but to give you a very quick reply: -
Design, supply and installation of the M&E system - approx. £ 220,000.00
Civil works / builderswork - approx. £ 40,000.00
Hope this helps.
Thanks and best regards
Ian Kirkpatrick
Managing Director
The Fountain Workshop Limited
The Lead & Paint Mill
The Historic Dockyard
Chatham
Kent ME4 4TZ
01634 829820
07710 423665
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#9
I made enquiries years ago when we had the new play area in Pencester.It is very costly. Shepway residents pay a much higher council tax than Dover District residents .You only get what you can afford and pay for.Personally I liked the raised flower bed of old.The fountain has always been high maintenance.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#10
Nobody is expecting anything grand Sue, certainly not with £10,000 to spend but the fountain is the most attractive thing in town and features on tourist literature. I would rather a better CCTV system was installed to cut down on vandalism so that we keep the fountain.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#11
I saw plans several years ago which came to nothing costing well over £70.000,The maintenance is very high,on the current one.When it is vandalised there are many parts to check and repair..Its of a very unusual design.Like you
say Howard £10.000 will not go far.
I suppose the floral raised bed was before your time Howard when the buses went into Market Square and the market was held around the square.Those were the days.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#12
I remember the raised bed Sue, but that was back when the Market Square was an interesting and buzzing place unlike now.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#13
You are right Jan Market Square buzzed.I worked in Lukeys located in Bench Street and had to wait in Market Square for my bus home.There were so many good quality shops there.Personally they spolt the town by the precinct as from the bus windows you could see into the shop windows .None of this sitting outside pubs.
Cars and delivery Lorries still go up the precinct.
it was meant to be progress .
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#14
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#15
This massive "regeneration"" sum of money is years away and despite what the mayor says it is not doable with DDC and DTC funding.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#16
I was in Market Square and despite there being some nice looking cafes/coffee houses etc and Rooks looking attractive it seems desolate without the fountain. All very well people coming out with great plans for the future with immeasurable funding in the pipeline but why could they have not left the fountain there until something would replace it?
Reginald Barrington- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,261
#17
As I regularly say Howard our town council is not fit for purpose, continually pursuing political goals and failing Dover and it's residents.
Arte et Marte
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#18
In this case DDC would have dismantled the fountain Reg but I agree DTC have discussed a replacement since 2012 and came up with a derisory amount of 10 grand for a replacement and that figure has not gone up since.
Maybe a bad simile but if we had a central heating boiler past it's best by date but we didn't have the ready money for a replacement we would keep the old one going until we could afford a new one.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#19
I have said many times it is costly to keep replacing parts.Every time someone decides to put fairy liquid into it it's time and replacement parts.They could eadily place a planter on top.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
I cannot fathom how a washing up liquid that makes your hands as soft as your face can do suc damage to the fountain. I queried this once with a chap repairing it and his opinion was that better pipes were needed.
