Following feedback from the public, Tewkesbury town centre now benefits from a drinking water fountain, thanks to funding from Tewkesbury’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ).
The HSHAZ is a partnership between Tewkesbury Borough Council and Historic England to invest £1m in the regeneration of the historic town centre.
Residents and visitors who took part in last summer’s community street audit in Tewkesbury identified the need for a source of drinking water in the town centre. Working in partnership with Tewkesbury Town Council, the HSHAZ has responded to these requests and funded the installation of a drinking water fountain in the Spring Gardens car park. The fountain, which is free to use, provides clean tap water for the general public to fill their bottles and cups.
Jen King, Assistant Town Clerk for Tewkesbury Town Council said “This water supply is already being well used, with the members of the local workforce finding it useful to top up a water bottle during their working day.”
HSHAZ Programme Manager, Georgia Smith, added “I am delighted that the HSHAZ funding has been able to contribute to the comfort of residents and visitors in this way. We experienced a very hot summer last year and I am pleased that the drinking water supply is in place in good time to meet demand in the warmer months this year.”
Rebecca Barrett, Regional Director at Historic England commented “This represents a small but very useful grant from HSHAZ funding. It is important to consider the whole town centre experience when working to regenerate our high Streets. The presence of simple, but practical facilities for users of historic towns, such as this drinking water fountain, can make the difference between a single visit or multiple return visits.”
Photo caption:
Assistant Town Clerk for Tewkesbury Town Council, Jen King, using the drinking water fountain.
