SUGGESTIONS have been put forward to replace the fountains near Basingstoke town centre, after the borough council announced it will not be reopening them.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council spent more than £8,000 trying to fix the popular fountains between Eastrop and Festival Place, before deciding to keep them permanently shut because the cost to fix them is estimated to be £100,000.

Council leader Cllr Paul Harvey said the council will look for “something better” to replace the fountains, which were installed more than 20 years ago.

They have been shut since 2019. 

READ MORE: Council looking for alternative to fountains after estimating £100k cost for repairs

Gazette readers have offered their suggestions as to what could be put in the space instead.

Yasmin Garwood suggested another splash pad while John David Gravett said he would like to see something linked to the Basingstoke Canal, which use to run where the fountains are located.

However, others questioned why the fountains could not be fixed.

Justin Ian Spencer said: “They just spent more than twice that on a playground over the Lime Pits. £100k is small change for them.”

Matt King questioned why it would cost so much, adding: “Just get the fountains working. The kids love them in the summer.”

SEE ALSO: Eastrop fountains to permanently close after council wastes £8k trying to fix them

Oliver Kirkham suggested new fountains but Jane Spray said: “Why bother? Maybe use some money to get the splash pad working properly.”

There were a few tongue-in-cheek suggestions also put forward, with Ross Quartz asking for a “big puddle”.

Fran Ayling added: “You just know they are going to install an ‘abstract’ sculpture there that they’ve paid some artist a ridiculous amount of money for.”

Cllr Harvey said: “We have heard what people have said about how they love the fountains at Eastrop. But it seems wrong to spend at least £100,000 patching up the fountains when they will still not be child-friendly or reliable. We will be exploring whether there is something better.

“We would prefer to invest that money in something new, safe and sustainable that works for the longer term and that children and families can enjoy.

“Given the on-going maintenance and servicing costs, the age of the fountains and the health and safety risk of children playing in water on a stone surface, which it was not designed for, we need to consider options to replace them all together with something new.”