Princess Gardens Grade II Listed fountain will be receiving a facelift during the upcoming winter months.
The fountain, which is only one of three of its kind in the UK, has developed a tilt. Work is required to temporarily remove the fountain and construct a new reinforced concrete base of granite paving which will match the promenade.
The work to remove the fountain will begin at the end of November and the restoration of and its reinstallation will take approximately sixteen weeks to complete. There is currently an estimated completion date of April 2018.
The restoration has been awarded to MW Benney Building Contractors The fountain will be fully refurbished and decorated to its original colour scheme. Colour changing Illuminations will return and will be placed around the fountain to highlight its intricate features. A weather station is also to be installed to monitor the wind direction and control the fountain water flow, this will protect the surrounding flowers and grass area from waterlogging.
For the duration of the works there will be no seasonal bedding or Tulips around the fountain, but planting will return upon completion of the works ready for the summer season 2018. The existing palm trees will also be removed.
Torbay’s Elected Mayor, Gordon Oliver, said: “This Grade II Listed Fountain in Princess Gardens is such a well-liked and prominent feature. It is great to see that it will be restored to its former glory and will continue to enhance the Listed Gardens. I am sure the residents, as I am, will be extremely happy to see that the Princess Gardens is receiving such investment.”
A new planting design is to be implemented upon completion of the structural works. This will be an exciting new improvement and the refurbished fountain together with the original ‘Fleur de Lis’ bedding designs would complement the recent addition of the Venetian-style Carousel. This will complement the historical importance of Princess Gardens and offer European influences to the English Riviera. Eight new palms will be planted to complement the original ‘Fleur de Lis’ design.
This work is part of the ongoing regeneration of this area that was approved earlier this year by the council’s Development Management Committee. This work follows the first part of the regeneration when the shelters and the old fountain base within the banjo where removed and new benches installed facing the fountain.
The repair and improvement of this significant feature has been funded from the income from the Wheel and Carousel together with planning obligation contributions.
Further details of the Princess Gardens Masterplan, its history and the longer term objectives for the Gardens is available online.
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