Piccadilly Gardens fountain back in action
The problematic fountain in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens is now flowing again, following a £400,000 programme of repair that began in September last year.
The broken machinery had to be lifted out and replaced, alongside major repairs to the fountain’s plant room, necessitating significant earth removal works to give access to the water feature’s system.
The main contractor was Henry Boot.
The reinforced concrete tank now has a water capacity of 70,000 litres, which feeds 15 pumps to power the 180 jets that eject water up to 6m into the air.
Each jet has two sets of LED lights, controlled by an underground system that allows the water above ground to be up lit in any combination of colours, which can be programmed for events.
Fencing currently remains around the fountains while the irrigation system is repaired and the grassed areas are re-turfed, before the area is completely open to the public in the spring.
Manchester City Council has been criticized by locals for a lack of care for Piccadilly Gardens.
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s city centre spokesperson, said: “It would be easy to underestimate the massive scale of the repair project. We’ve had to dig more than 10m below the surface to remove the huge machinery hidden under the Gardens.
“We appreciate your patience while the work has been complete, but I know you will think it’s been worth the wait. The fountain is a huge draw in the city centre and it is fantastic to have it back.”
Brilliant News! Now the kids will have somewhere to wash this summer.
By Shameless
I give it 3 months before it breaks. Again.
By Trevi
I GIVE IT 2 WEEKS
By ALI
Seriously ugly thing. Why consult over the gardens but not this? Some councillors don’t seem to want to admit they totally screwed up the original design and consultation process.
Are we basically stuck with the basic design and layout until Karney and Leese retire?
By Specsaver
Great news!
By Anonymous
Amen to that!
By Soapy
FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS spent on that awful fountian!? They could have started the whole Piccadilly gardens refurb with that money! hat a huge waste of money & time.
By Francesca
Carnage to the rescue.The ruination of a once great garden.Now it looks like a frieze at Bispham. Well done.All it needs now is Noddy and Big ears in cars.
By Elephant
What an absolute waste of money- people are homeless,elderly people can’t afford to heat their homes the list is endless and you waste 400k on this…
By T
The gardens were never lovely, they were a magnet for crime and drugs. It’s a busy public interchange and should be a big concrete square like Alexanderplatz. The fountains are fine.
By Anonymous
Its so obvious that Pic Gardens needs to be a square! Its a bit of a nothing at the moment, it could give the city centre a great focal point. Latest plans for it are another disastrous fudge.
By Rooney
The gardens were lovely in Summer. Granted they were a magnet for anti- social behaviour too, but the blooms were colourful and not like the landfill site there now. Plus you could sit on forms,rather than that hideous tatty grass there now. That awful office full of chain eateries,doesn’t help. A square is something I originally disagreed with,but the more I think about it,the more I like it.
By Elephant
The fountains are not ‘fine’. They’re an enormous waste of space, impede movement and look hideous.
By Vision expressed
They have not got a clue and never maintain things. Suppose Karney thinks all is wonderful?
By Schwyz
I was involved in pricing this scheme about 8 years ago, I think the costs then were aprox £160k, but the project was shelved due to the expense !!!
By Mr Moo