Deadline in campaign to restore fountain

CAMPAIGNERS ARE tantalisingly close to realising their dream of restoring a Victorian fountain in the leafy Avenues area of Hull.

They are now only £34,000 away from the £150,523 needed – but have to raise the money in the next 26 days or lose the lot.

Of the six fountains built in the 1920s only two are left and neither has water.

The fountain at the junction of Victoria Avenue and Salisbury Street, was taken down in 1927, as a hazard to traffic.

Community group and charity Victoria Fountain wants to bring a piece of the area’s history back and say it will be a legacy for generations to come.

It has already commissioned the manufacture of the main parts of a new fountain which will have water cascading down during the summer months.

Spokesperson Hilary Byers urged anyone thinking of making a donation to act now as all the pledges will have to be refunded if the target is not met by February 28.

She said: “This is getting very exciting! We are thrilled to have reached this milestone, and thank everyone who has pledged their donation so far for their generosity and farsightedness in contributing towards what will be a wonderful community asset.

“We especially thank Hull Council and contractor CR Reynolds for taking the opportunity, while the road surface was being repaired, to install conduits beneath the road so that water and electricity can be brought to the site, saving over £7,000 and preventing further upheaval.”

Friends of Pearson Park and anonymous donors have made generous pledges, and Ms Byers said friends and neighbours had also raised money by having a clear out and selling items they no longer want.

To make a pledge visit www. spacehive.com/victoriafountain or phone 01482 445915 or 01482 445747.