Award nomination for Williamson Square fountain
The Williamson Square fountain has been nominated for yet another award, this time by the Fountain Society.The society holds their Marsh Fountain Awards every five years for "innovation in the display or use of water" and the Williamson Square fountain is on their shortlist of seven fountains across the UK. The judges will be visiting Liverpool shortly and the winner will be announced in August 2006.
The fountain, designed by Camlin Lonsdale Landscape Architects and Faber Maunsell engineers, was part of the £5.75 million City Centre Movement Strategy scheme to transform Williamson Square and the surrounding area in 2004.
With 20 jets of water arching up to four metres high, the fountain recirculates 37,000 litres of water every two hours with two spectacular displays every hour programmed by its own computer.
Inlaid into the granite surrounding the fountain is a poem specially composed by Roger McGough on the theme of water, presented as a gift to the city.
The City Centre Movement Strategy, CCMS, is a £73 million scheme to improve the roads and public areas of Liverpool, implemented by partners Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, and Merseytravel.
The first phase of the City Centre Movement Strategy, including the work in Williamson Square was received a commendation at the Civic Trust Awards, won the National Transport Award for Walking and the Public Realm, and were highly commended in the Local Government News awards.
Councillor Peter Millea, Executive Member for Regeneration and Transport, said:
"The fountain in Williamson Square has been a marvellous addition to our public spaces and it is certainly very popular in the warm weather. The awards it is receiving is a testament to the quality of the design and the work in the surrounding area. Well done to all concerned!"