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Shelley Fountain
Updated April 2014
Since it was
erected at Lynd Cross in 1996 the Rising Universe has
polarised views. When working as it should it was
undoubtedly impressive and gave many people,
particularly children, a lot of fun. It also
featured in a montage of local images to introduce the
BBC regional TV news.
But from the start it was been dogged with problems.
It underwent a major overhaul in 2005 which was
supposed to ensure its continued reliability yet it
spent 2009 propped on a beam surrounded by temporary
fencing while the Council decided whether to spend a
further substantial sum needed to repair the
hydraulics.
The District Council consulted the public over three
options: repair it, lock the mechanism in a static
position, or remove it altogether. The Society view
was that it should either be fully repaired or removed
and replaced with a new public art feature –
preferably with moving water – partly funded through
public subscription.
In the event the Council decided on repair and the
feature was reopened in May 2010. Unfortunately
by August the sculpture again failed; this time we
understand due to a faulty weld.
By March 2011 the sculpture was
working to restricted hours and on a slower cycle.
Then it failed again. Drained of water it
was a sad sight and a blight on this area of the
town.
The developers of the new Waitrose site
in Albion Way, and the Council, want to revamp the
pleasant landscaped area to the west of the
fountain. We say this is unnecessary and any money
that is available should be spent on Lynd Cross and
replacing the Shelley Fountain with a more suitable
piece of high quality public art, preferably with
moving water.
In June 2016 the Council finally
removed the ball and stem, leaving the splash bowl
into which have been planted 16 slender Silver Birch
trees, pending agreement over a more permanent
scheme. The result is much better than looking at a
broken fountain, and once adjacent building work is
completed it will look very effective. |
