Spalding’s Civic Society has launched a petition urging a historic drinking fountain be brought back to the town centre rather than put back in Ayscoughfee Gardens.
As The Voice reported last week, South Holland District Council is working on planning permission to site The Johnson Memorial Fountain there.
It was previously removed from Ayscoughfee to make way for the war memorial having been in Hall Place before that.
Coun Rodney Grocock has pledged to get it back out of storage but says it’s “definitely” not going in the town centre as it’s “not feasible” and due to lead piping being broken inside, it couldn’t be used for drinking water.
Spalding Civic Society claims that Coun Grocock broke a promise over the fountain and says it started the petition over a lack of consultation with the public and the Spalding Town Centre Improvement Steering Group.
“The drinking fountain was provided for the benefit of the people of Spalding, and we feel that it is for the people of
Spalding to have their say,” a statement from the society says. “The society therefore has launched a public petition calling on South Holland District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Historic England and Anglian Water to work with community groups such as the society to find a solution that will restore the Johnson Drinking Fountain as a working fountain in the heart of Spalding town centre.
“The idea that the fountain could not be restored as a working drinking fountain as part of the solution to combat plastic pollution does not stand up to scrutiny.
“There are many examples of historic fountains being brought back into use. Examples can be found in Sleaford, London’s St Pancras Station, Ipswich and Norwich to name but just a few.
“We also find the claim that it could not be positioned in the town centre because of traffic and potential damage incredible. There are parts of the town centre that are completely pedestrianised now which was not the case when it was removed, and at 70 tonnes it must be quite solid.”
The Civic Society has also written a letter to The Voice (see page 10).
Speaking this week, Coun Grocock reiterated that the fountain couldn’t go in the town centre “for a myriad of reasons”.
“It just wouldn’t fit in modern day Spalding,” he said.
“Yes it’s pedestrianised at times, but there’s car parking spaces at certain times as well as the market.
“We never know what Lincolnshire County Council will do in respect of the roads and they may make it you can drive though all the while again.
“I understand the Civic Society are coming at it from a historic point of view but I don’t think they’re looking at it very fairly.
“It will be in a prominent position and to keep it safe will have railings around and be locked up at night.
“It’s definitely not going in the town centre.”
The petition is here.
