‘Pay for it yourself’ - cash-strapped council urges villagers over monument upkeep

A community in Bristol should pay for repairs to a century-old monument, says the city mayor, who added it was ‘highly unlikely’ the work would be done by the council in the near future.

Tagart’s Fountain Memorial was donated by Old Sneed Park owner Francis Tagart to the Stoke Bishop community to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. But over recent years, residents have highlighted numerous repairs needed to Bristol City Council using Fix My Street. They include concerns over rotting wood and a need of a new paint.

Local councillor Henry Michallat raised his concerns at Bristol City Council member forum on Tuesday (November 8). But a reply written on the mayor’s behalf said: “Given the current pressures on our budget, with our capital budget oversubscribed, it is highly unlikely that this can be prioritised for repair.

“We acknowledge that this was donated to the local community by Francis Tagart, Stoke Bishop resident, rather than a Bristol City Council structure. Perhaps you may wish to consider a local funding scheme perhaps facilitated by the residents’ association.”

The drinking fountain is made from sandstone, wood and granite. It also has a tiled octagonal roof. Historic England listed it as a Grade-II monument in 1976.

In response to the mayor, Cllr Michallat and his fellow Conservative ward councillor, John Goulandris, said they would continue to argue the case with the mayor and the council over the importance of saving monument.

In a statement they said: “Whilst we understand that Tagart‘s Fountain was donated, rather than placed by Bristol City Council, It has been the responsibility of the Council since being gifted - so the Council is primarily responsible for its upkeep. It is a great shame that the Mayor doesn’t share the same enthusiasm for saving this important, beloved Grade II listed monument.

“We will continue to argue the case to the Mayor and the Council about the importance of saving the fountain, as well as working with local residents in trying to find a way to save it. We must work together, otherwise, Bristol will lose yet another historic monument”.