Funding setback hits fountain plan
ACAMPAIGN for the restoration of Bacup’s defunct Coronation fountain has suffered a setback.
The board behind the town’s Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) wrote to county council highways chiefs last month seeking a funding commitment for annual maintenance costs of the fountain if it could be restored as part of the ongoing THI works in the town centre.
However, Lancashire County Council (LCC) has now replied that such funding is ‘unlikely’, although they will consider ‘a lighting feature’.
Bosses will now hold a meeting to explore remaining options for the refurbishment of the former fountain on the St James Square roundabout, including the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
A statement issued by the THI Board stated: “The THI Board was seeking to confirm whether LCC would consider taking responsibility for annual maintenance costs if funding could be raised for the restoration of the fountain.
“The following response has now been received from County Councillor Keith Iddon, cabinet member for highways and transport: ‘Thank you for your letter of 13 July in relation to your request that the county council takes responsibility for annual maintenance costs associated with a possible restoration of the fountain in Bacup.
‘I am unable to be prescriptive given that no specific proposals are available to comment on, but would confirm that the county council is unlikely to take responsibility for and maintain a water feature at this location. The county council would consider licensing a lighting feature and contributing to its maintenance, for example through paying for the energy costs, provided that such costs were mod- est.’”
In March we reported on calls to restore the fountain as a water feature for the first time in more than 30 years, backed by an 850-signature petition.
In response to Coun Iddon’s letter, Coun Jackie Oakes, acting chairperson of the THI Board, said: “It is important that the centre piece looks attractive to complement the enhancements brought to the town centre by the THI project.
“The Bacup THI Board will be holding a special meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the options available to refurbish the ex-fountain. As part of this process HLF will be contacted to see if these works can be funded as part of the project.”