A BROKEN fountain in Swindon’s town centre has been fixed for the first time in seven years.

A plumber who popped over to sort out a minor issue in the Queens Park cafe area earlier this week managed to fix the fountain in minutes after it was left in disrepair for many months.

Swindon Borough Councillor for Eastcott Stan Pajak said: “We were all very surprised by how easy it was to sort out. People walking through the park were surprised to hear running water again, it’s fantastic.

“The plumber came over to the cafe and noticed all the murky and rather stagnant water in the pond. He wondered what the problem was so the park’s gardener Richard Pinchon came along to help him access the fountain and, after playing around with it for a short while, the plumber had it operational again.

“Richard said that it hadn’t been working for five years but a resident who visits the park every day mentioned that it had actually been more like seven years.

“It’s lovely, it really adds to the park and the residents who come here are happy it’s working again, the water is aerated at last and all is good.”

The park’s community council offered to pay for a new timer to be added to the fountain, which is currently on constantly, but Swindon Borough Council stepped in to cover the costs.

Coun Pajak added: “The borough had said they would have a look at fixing the fountain years ago but never got around to it. The parish council took over ownership of the park at the start of this month but the borough apologetically offered to pay for the new timer, which was nice.”

A South Swindon Parish Council spokesman said: "Neither the pump to the main pond nor the feeder into the smaller ornamental pond were working.when the parish council took over responsibility for the park from the borough, We are committed to repairing them, though I didn't know Stan had got it fixed, that's great news."