Cash flow needed for Kirkintilloch centrepiece
HOPE springs eternal that a Kirkintilloch landmark can be restored to its former glory.
Watson's Fountain, on the town's Cowgate, has been in a state of disrepair for many years and it is believed it was last in full working order in the 1950s.
The ornate fountain was donated to Kirkintilloch by Sir John Watson in 1893 and the four bowls around the middle of the landmark, now filled with concrete, originally had metal cups chained to them – allowing passers-by to enjoy a drink of fresh spring water.
Campsie and Kirkintilloch North councillor Charles Kennedy has campaigned for years for a facelift for the historic monument.
He believes the first job would be to repoint and clean the fountain – a job which East Dunbartonshire Council officers have said will cost between 1,198 and 1,833.
But the cash-strapped council says there is no money available for the work, leaving Councillor Kennedy keen to get local businesses involved.
He said: "It is absolutely essential that immediate work is carried out to the fountain now before any further deterioration takes place.
"I would also like to hope that with modern technology we could once again restore a water feature to the fountain."
Chamber of Commerce chairman Robert Wilson agreed that getting the fountain into some kind of working order would be beneficial to the town and pledged to talk to members about possible funding.
However, he warned that restoring drinking water to the fountain would probably be economically unviable.
He told the Herald: "I do think it would be nice to have some kind of water feature flowing through the fountain again and we are prepared to do as much as we can, along with our members, to help."
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Weather for Kirkintilloch
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 0 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 5 C
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