Gardener 'disgusted' as Leeds fountain feature left in 'shocking' state a year after being repaired

A gardener has said he is “disgusted” after finding that a water feature in Leeds city centre, that he helped restore, has once again been left in a “shocking” state.

The fountain in Mandela Gardens in Millennium Square was given “restored splendour” last summer, after five years of appeals from professional gardener Peter Fawcett.

Mr Fawcett, 77, of Cleckheaton, said he took his friend to see the fountain on Wednesday (June 30) “expecting to see the fountains teeming out with clear sparkling water”.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “What a let down it was seeing it back to the dilapidated state it was in for five years before. No working water and containing litter.

“It’s all gone back to square one and I can’t help wonder why, because it was restored and it can’t have broken down in just 12 months.

“It’s ridiculous.”

Nettles have grown among the plants at the feature and that the water has become murky after not having the filter turned on.

He added: “I noticed it wasn’t working in the winter, which I understand because it might freeze up, but it apparently has just not been turned on. It’s just been left.

“It should be a case of just hitting a switch as far as I can see but for some reason they don’t want to do it.

“What’s there now is shocking.

“I spoke to two gardeners working in another part of town and asked if they knew anything about it. They said that they had requested the Nelson Mandela water feature to be turned on - only to be ignored.”

He said that seeing the display looking the way it did was “rather sad”, adding: “But I’m a gardener and gardeners have great resilience. They have got to withstand all kinds of weather and pests and diseases.”

The original water feature was opened in 2001 by Nelson Mandela, after being brought to the city from “one of the premier exhibits” at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Mr Fawcett said: “When Nelson Mandela came it was one of the biggest days in Leeds.

“This fountain was supposed to be the legacy of Nelson Mandela and obviously the legacy has been forgotten.

“It should be one of the most wonderful sites in Leeds. When it was restored I was quite ill but I got out of bed and went down straight away and it was magnificent.”

He said that he took “no personal glee” from getting the fountain restored last year, adding: “The garden is for Leeds in itself.

“The garden would be the envy of any metropolitan area in England and it’s been left to go to ruin twice now by officials. And I think it’s disgusting that they should allow it.”

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: "Contractors will be on site next week to carry out targeted maintenance and cleaning of the Mandela Gardens pond and water feature.

“Following the refurbishment of the site last year, our aim is to bring the feature back to working order, and looking its best for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer months."

When informed of the council’s comment, Mr Fawcett said: “Take a look at it next week? They ought to be down there straight away!

“It’s an appalling situation when you have gardeners but they are not being told to do anything. And that comes back to the person in charge.

“It’s a disgrace. This is the most premier site in Leeds parks and it should be in pristine condition.”