Page 9 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • August 2009 9
There’s more to this water feature than meets the eye

The dancing fountains at North Swindon District Centre are a magnet for children and families in hot weather, but few realise
the complex and expensive task of maintaining them. Natasha Spencer discovers what’s behind and underneath the free attraction.
Whilst children enjoy splashing The fountains have been a huge able which of course is very
through the water jets and making attraction since they were installed important in a public place.
up games to fi nd out where the in 2002. The Link reported in 2007 “Over the last few years
water will shoot out from next, it’s that Asda Walmart was discussing people have often turned up
easy to forget about what’s required with Swindon Council if the facil- and have been disappointed
to keep the fountains going. ity could be shut down because of the fountains have been out
Underneath the plaza outside the cost of repair and maintenance. of action because of equip-
the library a large room is packed They were told the feature was ment failures and design
with pipes, cables, a cabinet full of important and integral part of the faults which at one time saw
computerised electronics, plus a district centre attraction. thousands of gallons of wa-
5,000 gallon reservoir. Stuart Tanfield, who actually ter disappearing out of the
Two powerful pumps recycle manages the West Swindon Centre, closed system into the soil
water around the system whilst inherited the water feature into his surrounding the site.
complex electronics regulate each management portfolio from his “But our maintenance Stuart Tanfi eld with Natasha Spencer
in the fountain pump and fi lter room
water jet. Alongside is a series of former boss. “Eighteen months ago company Linaker have be-
fi lters which constantly check the I had very little idea about keeping come experts in keeping the foun- Stuart has to deal with vandals
water for bacteria and airborne water features in good repair. The tains going; I think we’re now on top who deface the fountains, scribbling
dangers like legionella. safety regulations are consider- of the problems after repairs to the tags on the brick work, damaging
site and replacing machinery.” lighting around the site and break-
Stuart said he’s always amazed ing paving slabs.
by what is cleaned out of the sieves If you’re visiting North Swindon
and fi lters under the fountain. A lot Centre in the early morning you’ll
of human hair, straws, sweet papers, sometimes see a trapdoor propped
cigarette butts and plastic bags open with workmen climbing down
are all found in the messy sludge. a steep ladder or emerging from
Rarely is there anything worse, but the ground. “It’s one of life’s little
Stuart can have the fountains turned mysteries to know what’s going on
off remotely if emergency attention behind the scenes,” said Stuart.
is required. “Maintaining the fountains is
The system also automatically obviously expensive but they’ve
turns itself off in high winds which become a landmark in Swindon
blow the water jets across the adja- and people now identify with them.
cent bus lane, and if the temperature They’re an important community
drops below a certain level. feature.”

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