Claro Marine model boating club has called on the public to help stop a fountain being installed in the Valley Gardens’ boating pond.
Harrogate Borough Council plans to put the fountain in the pool next year at a cost of £6,000. The boaters have argued it will stop their hobby as water from the fountain will damage the engines of their model boats.
The club’s secretary, Dave Finnegan, wrote to the council outlining its concerns and earlier this month received a response.
Head of parks and environment services, Alison Wilson, wrote:
“As the body [of the fountain] consists of a base and jets there is little infrastructure involved. Once in place, we will consider any protection required to ensure there is no damage to the jets from boats and vice versa.
“We do not wish to curtail your clubs activities, simply make the area more attractive and usable at other times of the week”.
Mr Finnegan told the Stray Ferret he was unhappy with Ms Wilson’s reply.
“You can’t use a model boat where there is a fountain. If your boat goes wrong or there is some interference with the remote control you can find the boat in the fountain area which damages the boat.
“If there is a fender cutting off the fountain, then you’re cutting off a huge area for the boats to go. It is a small pond really not a lake. The boats need the deeper water which is where they’ll put the fountain. “
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The council has also said it was working on a scheme where the club could disable the fountain but Mr Finnegan said it had additional concerns that in hot weather the fountain water could pose a public health risk. As a result it doesn’t want responsibility for operating it
“The pond is shallow and we’re concerned that if the water temperature rises above 20 degrees celsius the fountain could create the risk of spreading legionnaires disease.”
The council has rejected this, saying the pond will be monitored and tested in hot weather.
The boating pond in Valley Gardens, which is currently drained
The club though has its supporters — retired lawyer, Dr Trevor Dale, wrote to Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones, outlining concerns for the boaters and raising the legionnaires disease issue.
Mr Jones then contacted Alison Wilson and sent Dr Dale a letter with her response in it.
So the club felt it had got no further and it has left the boaters feeling frustrated and powerless.
Mr Finnegan said:
“We’ve no idea how to change their minds. When you consider it has been used as a boating pool for 98 years, it’s very sad.
“Nobody is helping us so I’d like the public to get involved and write to the council or to Andrew Jones and call for the fountain plan to be cancelled.”
Fountain will end model boating in Valley Gardens, says club
A Harrogate model boating club has said plans to erect a fountain in the boating pool at Valley Gardens will stop them being able to pursue their hobby.
Claro Marine model boating club meets twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays to operate motor boats on the pool behind the cafe.
Harrogate Borough Council plans to put a fountain in the pool to help improve water quality.
David Finnegan, secretary of Claro Marine, told the Stray Ferret it would make sailing the boats impossible:
“Model boats do malfunction – if we are distracted and steer them underneath the fountain by mistake, the boats’ electrics will be damaged and, if they fill up with water, it’ll sink them.
“A home made model boat can cost up to £1,000 — to get a well made British scale model steam plant for the boat can cost £800.”
Until recently council staff regularly drained and cleaned the pond of leaves and litter and then refilled it.
Last month, though, the pool was drained but not refilled due to the drought and the fountain is due to be installed next year.
Mr Finnegan said the council told him the decision had already been made:
“I am very disappointed at Harrogate Borough Council and certainly upset. We have members who are elderly and can’t drive so we need a central location.
“It’s a cost-cutting exercise and they’ve made no real effort to get in touch with us
“I have one friend who lives on his own and he loves the hobby. He is a non driver and, for him, this is like the end of the world.
“For us boaters it is such a relaxing and pleasant thing to do”
Mr Finnegan, 68, says there’s a long tradition of boating on the small pond – as a child he paddled in the water amongst the vessels. The boaters often have spectators who enjoy watching them – particularly children.
A video of the club’s boats being sailed on the pool.
The Stray Ferret put the club’s concerns to the council. A spokesperson said:
“Currently, the boating pond in Valley Gardens is empty due to maintenance and the continued hosepipe ban in place across Yorkshire.
“Next year, we will be installing a new fountain to help aerate the water and improve its cleanliness (once the hosepipe ban has been lifted).
“It will also provide another distinctive area for people to enjoy and complement the award winning floral displays, Himalayan and Japanese gardens, Grade II listed Sun Pavilion and Colonnades, and games and attractions currently on offer.
“The fountain – supported by Friends of Valley Gardens – is controllable so once installed, if it is problematic for the model boating club, we would be happy to discuss it with them to ensure it can be enjoyed by all visitors of Valley Gardens.”
The Boating Lake, Valley Gardens, Harrogate c.1949
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