Peterborough’s Cathedral Square Fountains 10 years on

The new Cathedral Square fountains spring into life

The water feature was the centrepiece in the £12 million project to redevelop the square, and the jets were switched on for the first time on June 2 2010.

Along with the fountains, the scheme had also seen the square re-paved and the old, unpopular Norwich Union office block was demolished.

Initial technical problems with the fountains soon dried up, but the large price tag made the scheme unpopular with some residents.

Work continues apace on the renovation of Cathedral Square

However, John Peach, who was leader of Peterborough City Council when the scheme was planned and agreed, said the works had been positive for Peterborough, and transformed the city centre.

Mr Peach said: “We had to look at the bigger picture - we had to look at revamping the city centre, and removing the old Norwich Union building.

“The flower beds in Cathedral Square were very dated, and didn’t match the other buildings, like the church, the cathedral and the Guildhall.

“We were able to get a grant from the East of England Development Agency to revamp the whole area, which meant it did not cost council anything. The money did not come from tax-payers.

Here are some pictures and background to the internal works in St John’s – phase one (costing £180,000) started on 19 April to install toilets, crèche/meeting room, new “commercial style” kitchen & servery, plus glazed doors to the south and west entrances. The west entrance will access straight onto the new St John’s Square.

We are meeting with Lord Andrew Mawson (Independent Peer & Social Entrepreneur) and the Leader of the Council (Marco Cereste) & Gillian Beasley (CEO) this Friday (30 April) in Peterborough to discuss partnerships with the council and how enterprise can play a greater part in regeneration projects like that happening in Peterborough.

As archivists, we are keen to see the changes happen so that our early 15th century church can return to being the major focal point of the city centre i.e. the church in the market place.

Funding from grant making and charitable organisations has been minimal. Parishioners are really behind the venture as they have contributed more than the £5K — Here are some pictures and background to the internal works in St John’s – phase one (costing £180,000) started on 19 April to install toilets, crèche/meeting room, new “commercial style” kitchen & servery, plus glazed doors to the south and west entrances. The west entrance will access straight onto the new St John’s Square. We are meeting with Lord Andrew Mawson (Independent Peer & Social Entrepreneur) and the Leader of the Council (Marco Cereste) & Gillian Beasley (CEO) this Friday (30 April) in Peterborough to discuss partnerships with the council and how enterprise can play a greater part in regeneration projects like that happening in Peterborough. As archivists, we are keen to see the changes happen so that our early 15th century church can return to being the major focal point of the city centre i.e. the church in the market place. Funding from grant making and charitable organisations has been minimal. Parishioners are really behind the venture as they have contributed more than the £5K

“We got £12 million, of which it cost about £6 million to buy the Norwich Union building, and another £4 million to demolish it, because it was full of asbestos.

“The water features were a small part of a large project- most of the money went on the Norwich Union building.”

Mr Peach said that without the redevelopment, a number of large firms would not have invested in the city.

He said; “I don’t think we would have some of those restaurants we do now, things like Pizza Express and Nandos. The new centre was such a draw to a lot of firms. At the time there were cheap shoe shops there, now we have restaurants and bars. John Lewis have just made one of their biggest investments in Peterborough - I don’t think they would do that without the big public realm improvements we have made. Cathedral Square was the start of that.”

CSFW c s f w cathedral square fountain works 09

The redevelopment split opinion in Peterborough, and Toby Wood, from the Peterborough Civic Society, said while he welcomed the work to repave the square he was still not impressed by the fountains themselves.

He said: “I think that the repaving of Cathedral Square was a good idea – it has provided the city with the open space right in the centre which therefore gives good views and access to the rest of the city, particularly the cathedral and the Guildhall.

“However the word that comes to mind regarding the fountains themselves is ‘underwhelming’.

“Personally I think the city would have been far better with a series of above ground water features similar to those that are in Bristol’s millennium Square.

“These are above ground and much more easy to maintain and, since they have mirrors, reflect the light on the water in a very attractive way. Sadly our fountains showed a lack of imagination.”

Along with the criticism there were also a number of complaints about young children playing in the fountains, and then running into shops. Mr Peach said he had been surprised by both.

He said: “I don’t think people really understood - it is easy to criticise us, and say we shouldn’t have spent £12 million on fountains, but it enabled the square to be multi use, for festivals and events, and bring in new businesses.

“I didn’t expect children to be running through the water - in the summer we have a lido where families could do that.

“I don’t think I would change much though - you can always say something like more aesthetically pleasing bins or something like that, but it has been a success.”

John Bridge, from Peterborough’s Chamber of Commerce, and the chairman of Opportunity Peterborough when the redevelopment was carried out, said the scheme had had a ‘tremendous impact’ on the city.

He said: “This has made Peterborough much more attractive to big companies.

“We can all remember what it was like before, when it was very dated.

“It was difficult to get it done, but what you need is good, strong leadership.

“Even now, when there are a lot of uncertainties, we need our city centre to be an attraction.

“We have the cathedral, a very significant attraction for tourists, and we have to look how we use our city centre - and the square is part of that.

“It give me great joy to see the benefits it has brought, and so many people enjoying it.”

Peterborough’s Cathedral Square Fountains 10 years on - Hit or miss?