Glasgow resident calls state of city fountain an 'embarrassment'

David Drysdale, who lives in the West End, walks past the Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park every day.  

He says the fountain, which was built in 1872, is full of “muck” which has been made worse by the structure’s water feature being off. 

The Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow. (Image: Colin Mearns)

The 62-year-old said: “The fountain is a centre point of the park.  

“And if you look at the photographs you’ll see the fountain itself is full of filth and muck.  

“The fountain needs to be working so you have a flow of water through it and that itself keeps it fairly clean.” 

He continued: “It’s been turned on for a couple of afternoons in the past two or three years, but apart from that it’s not been used. 

“There’s an ample supply of water to have the fountain on, there’s no drought restrictions or anything like that.” 

Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow. (Image: Colin Mearns)

A spokesperson for the council confirmed it is aware of a fault at the fountain.

The Stewart Memorial Fountain was erected by the Water Commissioners to commemorate the public services of Robert Stewart of Murdostoun who was Glasgow’s Lord Provost from 1851 to 1854.  

He was the driving force behind the implementation of a municipally-owned water scheme to provide clean water to the city’s rapidly increasing population.  

It underwent restoration work earlier this year with stone masons refurbishing some of the small statues on the fountain.  

Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park (Image: Colin Mearns)

However, David says during the 2023 UCI World Cycling Championships and the World Pipe Band Championship 2023 he became further frustrated by the fountain’s condition due to the number of visitors to the city in the park. 

He said: “I think it just typifies the city, it’s just a mess. It’s an embarrassment.  

“People asked me why the fountain wasn’t on and they said, ‘why’s it such a mess?’ 

“I told them they spent a few thousand pounds restoring it and they’ve not got it functioning.  

“It should be looked after; it should be working.” 

David says he has contacted the council about his concerns for the fountain but so far feels nothing has been done to rectify the problem. 

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said:  "We are aware of a fault at the Stewart Memorial Fountain and have asked our appointed contractor to investigate and take the appropriate action."