Scots council spends £254k on fountain that doesn't work

A council spent more than a quarter of a million pounds on a fountain that doesn’t work.

Renovation of the historic Smollett Fountain in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, cost £254,000 but it won’t function as a water feature.

Work on the B-listed fountain got underway in 2022 and when complete, the local council hopes that the fountain will be restored to its Victorian-era glory.

But due to safety concerns, the fountain will remain completely dry, with a £40,000 lighting system installed to highlight its features.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s Vale of Leven Masterplan said: “People are also keen to see reinstatement of the disconnected water supply to the gravity fed fountain.

“This has been investigated but unfortunately, due to safety considerations and other issues, it is not currently viable.”

The huge expense was blasted as an “excessive amount of money”.

Community Party councillor Jim Bollan said: “There have been cuts to school crossing patrollers, cuts to roads and pavement repairs, cuts of £1.4m to education, £60 brown bin charges, a 10 percent rise in all WDC charges, charges for school breakfast clubs, more cuts to libraries to name a few of the 35 made this year.

“Therefore £254,000 does seem an excessive amount of money to spend on the Smollett Fountain. And I am sure many local people will share this view.

“If you spend that amount of money on a restoration for a fountain then it really should be functioning. It’s unfortunate that can’t be achieved.”

Rev. Ian Miller, chair of Alexandria Community Council said he welcomed investment in the historic landmark - but questioned if it was the best use of funds.

He said: “The fountain has been a big talking point in the community since the work started. Mostly concerning the disruption to Main Street.

“Like the Cal Mac ferries everything seemed to take longer than the original estimate.

“In some ways it’s difficult to criticise an attempt to facelift a focal point in the community.

“It is part of our history and history is important.

“From the comments I hear, however, the refurb of the fountain was not on the list of residents’ top priorities.

“Will the new refurbed fountain fill residents with renewed pride as they pass it? I doubt it.”

Leven SNP member Ian Dickson said: "The refurbishment of the fountain was very thorough, with experts hired at every stage to do our listed monument justice. Despite knowing that, the final price tag still came as a bit of a shock. Yet another reminder of the crazy price inflation that we all see in our daily lives, which clearly affects the council too.

"As one of a dozen projects in the people's Town Centre Masterplan I welcome all investment into Alexandria but I particularly welcome the commitment to turn the focus onto Mitchell Way now, which we can all agree is a very high priority project for Vale residents and businesses.

"With Lidl due to start construction in a matter of weeks WDC needs to get its skates on now and get Mitchell Ways public realm improvements underway. "

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “The Smollett Fountain renovation is a key strategic project in the Alexandria Masterplan, which aims to bring about positive change in Alexandria over the next 10 years.

“The Masterplan was shaped by input from local residents and businesses, with more than 70 percent of those who shared feedback in favour of the renovation of the B-listed fountain.

“When complete, the fountain will help create an attractive and welcoming town centre which celebrates this important heritage asset at the Heart of the Vale.”

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