Water is to flow in Elgin’s town centre once again, as major repairs and a refurbishment have been planned for the town’s centrepiece fountain.
Work will be done to get the Plainstones Fountain back up to scratch after recent years have seen the fountain rarely used – and leaking when it has been turned on.
Up to £30,000 is to be spent on getting the water feature back in working order, as part of the plan to spruce up the town centre.
The bill will cover a full refurbishment of the stonework, a professional cleaning and improved waterproofing.
The project will be jointly funded by Moray council’s common good fund and the Elgin conservation area regeneration scheme.
It follows the completion of the £45,000 Muckle Cross refurbishment in February this year, which was paid for from the common good fund.
The funding is dependent on the work being completed by March next year – but it is expected to be finished well in advance of that deadline.
Councillor Graham Leadbitter, who campaigned for the work to be done, said that the effects of the work would benefit the town for years to come.
He said: “In the last few years I have been trying to get a more strategic, long-term view taken of the common good fund.
“It’s important that we keep looking to do all we can to keep Elgin looking as good as it can, and improving it at every opportunity.
“If we want to boost our tourism and create employment, having a good looking town centre is a really important part of that.”
The move was welcomed by the manager of Elgin’s business improvement district Gill Neill, who said the refurbishment would have a positive impact in one of the town’s main shopping areas.
She said: “As a partner in the conservation area project, we were delighted to offer our support to the refurbishment of the fountain.
“Feedback on the work carried out on the Muckle Cross has been incredibly positive and we have no doubts the fountain will generate the same excitements.
“It’s great to see these iconic monuments being given a new lease of life.”
