The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
It’s ‘like moving the Arc de Triomphe’
March’s grade II listed fountain, built to celebrate the coronation of King George V in 1911, will be relocated as part of a town regeneration scheme
Permission to relocate March's grade II listed Coronation Fountain has been granted by Fenland District Council's (FDC) planning committee - despite warnings it would be like moving the Arc de Triomphe.
March Society chairman Jennifer Lawler spoke at a committee meeting to object to proposals to move the 111-year-old fountain from its current position between two lanes of traffic on Broad Street to the pavement 14 metres away.
“Moving the fountain is comparable with moving a structure such as the Arc de Triomphe from its setting,” she told councillors. “It completely loses its impact.”
The Arc de Triomphe, nine times taller than the Coronation Fountain, is on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
FDC, which made the application, wants to move the fountain to the pavement in front of Malletts (32 Broad Street) in order to create a roundabout in its spot.
It also says that the new,
pedestrianised location will allow greater appreciation of the historic structure, built to celebrate the coronation of King George V in 1911.
Cllr Steve Count (Conservatives) was among those who spoke in favour of the plans.
March town centre is “slowly dying”, he said, but
a new roundabout would reduce congestion and make it more attractive.
“Instead of killing the town centre as some believe, this is an opportunity to enhance the town I love,” he said, adding that the fountain’s new location is still “highly visible”.
FDC contractors working on the project also stressed that Historic England has scrutinised their plans and that they have had no suggestion from police that moving the fountain will increase antisocial behaviour.
But Cllr Charlie Marks (Independent) suggested that people will eat takeaways under the fountain, while Cllr Rob Skoulding (Conservatives) said it will be used as a climbing frame.
A majority of councillors voted to approve the application despite the vocal opposition. They also approved a separate application to demolish a toilet block at the other end of the street to pave the way for the same scheme.