£300k plan to restore boat pond and fountain in Port Sunlight
A major £300,000 restoration is planned for a boating pond and fountain which have been dry for five years.A planning application to revamp the Grade-II listed Boating Pond and Sea Piece Fountain in Port Sunlight Village on Merseyside has been submitted to Wirral Council.Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT), the charity responsible for the 19th century industrial worker village, commissioned in-depth technical surveys and research and has applied for listed building consent approval.If approved, work is set to be completed by autumn 2026.
PSVT chairman Andrew Bowden said the pond and fountain held a "special place in the hearts of both local residents and visitors". He said it was not just about physical repairs but also preserving a vital part of Port Sunlight's heritage and ensuring the "feature continues to bring joy for many years to come".The model village was created by William Lever for soap factory workers.Originally constructed in the early 1930s as part of the landscape design of the Diamond opposite Lady Lever Art Gallery, the Boating Pond was a key Lever's vision. Serious structural issues with the pond's concrete basin and stone walls were found in 2020, resulting in significant water leakage.
Additional safety concerns and potential environmental contamination led to the pond being emptied in 2021.Research has also discovered that the appearance of the Sea Piece Fountain has changed over the decades from a light green colour to brown.The charity wants to restore it to its original "historically accurate" colour.PSVT's plan also includes replacing the concrete basin to prevent future leakage and creating an area of "crazy paving" around the boating pond with resin bound gravel.The charity said this would improve accessibility and replicate the original surface.The pumping and filtration systems would also be upgraded.Residents and visitors are urged to share their memories, mementos and photographs.
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