Taxpayers hit by £1,000-a-week bill to maintain new water features in St George’s Square

Jul 24 2009 By Barry Gibson

TAXPAYERS will fork out £1,000 a week to maintain water features at St George’s Square.

Kirklees Council is installing jets and a waterfall as part of the £4m revamp of the Huddersfield landmark.

But the councillor in charge of the regeneration revealed yesterday that keeping the water clean will cost £50,000 a year.

Nine water jets are being installed at the front of the square by the entrance to Huddersfield Railway Station. And a 14m-long black granite wall is being built at the bottom of the square by John William Street.

The wall, which is currently hidden behind metal fencing, will include a waterfall.

Cabinet member for regeneration Clr Christine Stanfield said: “The two water features are costing £50,000 to build. The cost of keeping the water to European standards – that is like a swimming pool – is another £50,000 a year, every year!”

Clr Stanfield is concerned that the water features will break down. She said: “Perhaps it’s true that the public love water features but I’m concerned that they will get bunged up with chips and chewing gum.”

Clr Stanfield also criticised the design of the wall being built near John William Street. She said: “To have 14 metres of black Chinese granite in that beautiful square is a tragedy.

“It will be a dreadful dribbling black wall. The only thing it will blend with will be the oil that drips from taxis in the square.”