Popular fountain in Chesterfield park out of action because of Covid 'risks'

Chesterfield Borough Council says the fountain in Eastwood Park, Hasland, will spout water once again when ‘risks’ associated with the virus have passed.

However, one resident said the fountain had been out of action ‘longer than it has been in action’ since returning to Hasland from New Square in Chesterfield town centre.

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Carol Booth, 57, who lives close to the park, said: “The fountain was originally in the park, then moved to outside Dent’s Pharmacy in the town centre.

"People were very unhappy about this so it was moved back to Hasland.

"It has worked in that time, but not properly with water coming out of all the mouths of the fish. There was only a sprinkle of water coming out of it.”

Carol says the fountain is potentially a ‘very nice feature’ for the park.

"But unfortunately the state it is in is a disgrace,” she added.

“It also needs a perimeter around it if it ever does start working properly. It is too close to the children’s play area and there could potentially be an accident.”

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Carol says the council is using the pandemic as an ‘excuse’ not to carry out the work needed on the fountain.

A spokesperson for Chesterfield Borough Council said this week: “The fountain in Eastwood Park was temporarily decommissioned due to risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, once it is safe to do so we will reinstate the fountain.”

The Friends of Eastwood Park website says the ‘large water fountain’ was donated by Alderman Markham, and previously stood in the grounds of Ringwood Hall, the family residence.

"After leaving Ringwood Hall it was in the Bowling Green in Chesterfield,” according to the website.

"There seems to be some upmanship going on between (Aldermen) Markham and Eastwood at this time with both of these two local industrialists making a generous gifts to the town.”

Old photographs of the grand opening of the park, on Wednesday, July 2, 1913, show large crowds gathered around the fountain.

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