The unveiling of Wolverhampton’s new showpiece water fountain has been delayed by months – after workers stumbled on a gas main and underground cables.
The dazzling centrepiece in Queen Square, which is hoped will bring the “wow factor” to the city centre, was expected to be up and running in the summer. But it has emerged that the £300,000 project will not now be finished until around Christmas. Boards have been installed around the site, near to the Prince Albert statue, to keep it hidden from view while gas workers try to solve the problem.
The grand project is part of bigger plans to create a “cafe culture” around Queen Square complete with outdoor tables and chairs.
The water feature will be made up of two separate water “plazas” on different levels with a walkway running between them.
The larger, higher pool will feature 15 vertical water sprays, six arch sprays, three misting jets and a rainbow of LED lights. The smaller lower pool, set to be a semi-circle shape, will have 13 vertical water sprays and five misting jets.
Wolverhampton City Council’s regeneration chief Councillor Paddy Bradley said: “We have to apologise to the public for the delay and we are as disappointed as they are.
“It looks quite unsightly at the moment but the boards had to be up because of the gas mains and cables which were found.
“The workers have moved in now to sort the problem out so it is finally going forward again now. It has to be ready for Christmas because it will form the centrepiece of some of the festivities.
“It will be a wonderful landmark when it is finished and we are all really looking forward to it being unveiled.”
Moves to create the new city centre landmark are part of a multi-million pound project to transform the central shopping area ahead of the impending flagship £300m Summer Row shopping mecca.
Run-down streets around the city have already been repaved as part of the £4m rejuvenation project.
Plans for a water feature were unveiled in 2006 but hit a stumbling block amid concerns about safety and the potential to be a magnet for anti-social behaviour and litter.
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