New fountain for Argents Mead

Work is underway to replace the fountain in Argents Mead pond as part of the Borough Council’s improvements to the popular Hinckley town centre park.

As well as improving the look of the area, the council hopes the fountain will help circulate the water in the moat, preventing it from becoming too stagnant and improving its quality.

The former fountain stopped working some time ago and funding to replace it has now become available thanks to contributions made by housing developers to improve community facilities in the Hinckley area.

Consequently, a specialist company was chosen to supply and fit a new floating fountain unit, a new junction box, control panel, mooring lines and anchor boxes along with the necessary work to excavate a 54 metre long trench to install a new electrical supply, which altogether cost £12,000.

As the Mead is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the council also sought permission to carry out the work from Historic England.
 
Further improvement to other parts of the moat with further developer contributions are planned in the future. These are likely to include some landscaping around the edge of the moat area, to soften the appearance of the existing concrete edging by planting marginal vegetation appropriate for this area.

Councillor Mark Nickerson, the Borough Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “Ever since being elected, I've pressed for this fountain and the Hollycroft Park waterway to be restored as I remembered them from my childhood. So I am really pleased that both these features will be back to their former glory - well done to our Neighbourhood Services Team."