Statement on Bacup THI

It has always been our intention to have a great centrepiece in Bacup. Since Lancashire County Council have confirmed that the Fountain must stay where it is the THI board is now focused on looking at ways of making the best use of it as the centrepiece for the THI public realm scheme.

With this in mind the THI Board considered a report into the feasibility of reinstating the fountain as a water feature. The report concluded that the fountain can technically be brought back into use. However this would be subject to significant capital funding, an annual maintenance budget, compliance with statutory regulations and approval from Lancashire County Council’s highways department. This latter factor is crucial given previous health and safety concerns arising from having a water feature within a road scheme.

Therefore the project cannot proceed any further without confirmation from Lancashire County Council that they are willing to sanction the reinstatement of the fountain as a water feature.

The Board therefore calls on Lancashire County Council as a matter of urgency to clarify this and I am pleased our county councillor colleagues will pursue this.

If we get that confirmation the board has agreed to start work with people interested in supporting and funding the project.