Town fountain could be removed

THE iconic Dandelion Fountain that has stood proudly on a main Nuneaton roundabout for decades could soon be removed.

The water feature - which has even won awards - could be taken down as part of £21.5m plans to tackle problems on the ring road.

Warwickshire County Council has unveiled huge proposals to try and sort out traffic congestion around the town centre, and one of them could see the popular feature confined to the history books.

Contained within the proposals for the A444/ Corporation Street/ Powell Way area are plans to remove the roundabout with the water feature in the middle and replace it with a four arm signalised crossroads.

It does not stipulate in the document if the fountain would be restored.

The huge plans, which form the biggest investment in the town’s road network for decades, are set to be discussed at a county council cabinet meeting next week.

They form part of the Transforming Nuneaton project which aims to regenerate the town centre, encourage investment and boost the local economy.

The dandelion fountain is not only treasured locally but also nationally as the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society (UKRAS) crowned the roundabout the best in the UK.

This acclaim came in 2016 and has made it a must-see for all visitors to the town. But, over the years, it has also suffered from vandalism.

Pranksters have regularly poured foamy liquid into the water, prompting foam to float across the area. Earlier this year it was the subject of a ‘severe act’ of vandalism.

It led to it being out of action while repairs were made.