The decision making had been protracted and difficult - what with Wakefield being the drinking capital of the five towns area - but eventually a plan was raised that would allow `The Merrie City` (as it`s known - and for good reason - burp - just google `The Westgate Run`)

The grace and beauty of trafalgar square would be emulated , in the City centre, Bull ring`s makeover. Although it would be impossible to have anything actually above ground - you understand, as it would likely be debased at night due to the drinking culture.

The plan was thus formulated for a shallow depression set into the area - in the actual walking surface - where the `art` would be just in the shape of the circular ring of water jets (10ft high) - it could be turned off at night and there would be no problems, Simple.

Of course it would need the shallow 30ft or so depression to be actually level, so water didn`t run off down the precinct, forming a small river outside the bank and Costa Coffee, when the predictable slight west wind blew into the square....

But back to `first contact` - always leaves a mark in memory seeing something new and exciting for the first time.

October last year. A cold morning at 10am and possibly around 7c. In mission control the fountain had been switched on secure in the knowledge that the good citizens would marvel at the artistic delight being presented in water jets. While they sat outside the Coffee place sipping their drinks while trying to pretend it was Paris.

First view - the fountain hoves into view and someone is standing astride one of the powerful water jets, mouth open. Someone else joins them as the water blows into a spray aerosol and the `river` heads past towards the Cathedral.

Of course - you could always spin a positive out of it and install a DNA sniffer into one of the fountain drains. There are already a ring of CCTV cameras around the Bull Riing - so it seems a shame to waste the DNA being so freely given.

Best hold your breath though when you feel that fountain aerosol on your face from 50 yards away as you try to get into Costa Coffee, across the `run off` river - you don`t know how often they change the water.

How has your own Council benefitted you?

Edited by oilrag on 24/06/2010 at 13:29