A COMPLETE refurbishment of a grade-II listed memorial fountain in the upper dale may be put on the back-burner because of the costs involved.
Restoring Middleton-in-Teesdale’s historic Bainbridge Fountain is one of a number of potential projects that the parish council is considering tackling in the next financial year.
But councillors decided to investigate further after it emerged during their last meeting that it might cost between £8,000 and £10,000.
Parish clerk Judith Mashiter said a number of “jobs” had been done over the years, including having part of it removed and taken away to be recast.
Cllr Kevin Tallentire said: “I don’t know what anyone else thinks but I just think it is a lot of money – if it is going to cost about £10,000 for a refurb, I don’t think it is worth it to be honest. Let’s have it titivated up as and when it needs.
“I had a look at it the other day and it just looks like a bit of flaking paint – it doesn’t seem in that bad a nick. It looks like it may need a paint job in a couple of years.”
Cllr John Millar added: “I remember when the big refurb was done more than 20 years ago, the dome was recast totally, so that should be sound.
“I think there were some repairs done to the legs, which were in a sorry state, but what Kevin just said bears out my thinking about it at the moment.”
He suggested the project remain on the agenda but that new quotes for the refurbishment be obtained and potential grant funding be investigated.
The council agreed unanimously to the proposal.
