THE construction of the new fountain for Ilkley town centre has been commissioned after a fundraising drive that saw local luminaries including Alan Titchmarsh and Sir Rodney Brooke generously donating.

Improving Ilkley has raised almost £50,000 for the contemporary fountain, designed by local artists Juliet and Jamie Gutch, which now means they can commission fabricator James Wilkinson to create the fountain.

It is expected that, if a further fundraising push to find the final £10,000 to pay for the final engineering works for the gravity-fed system is successful, the fountain could be installed and working by the end of this year.

More than 130 supporters have pledged money through Improving Ilkley’s JustGiving fund-raising page, spurred on by an art auction and a successful tour around the area of a 3D scale model of the fountain.

There was also a “significant one-off donation” from renowned local art collector Ronnie Duncan who, over many years has supported key Yorkshire and national galleries and museums through his foundation. Ilkley BID is also one of the project’s main sponsors.

Louise Hepworth-Wood of Improving Ilkley, said: “The project now requires a final push to raise £10,000 for the final part of the engineering works for the gravity-fed fountain system.

“There is still the opportunity for donors of £250 or more to have their name permanently marked at the fountain site and the charity has begun a final countdown for the last names to be included.

“The charity would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the project, either financially or by sharing kind words. The hope is that everyone will come together and enjoy the fountain once it is installed.”

The fundraising exhibition and auction took place in April at the town’s Tinker Gallery, which was also the first venue in Ilkley to showcase the scale model of the fountain.

Limited edition scale maquettes of the fountain were produced by Boroughbridge-based artisan blacksmith James Wilkinson, which were sold to raise money alongside the work of 27 local artists, who donated their work to boost the fundraising drive.

The new fountain will replace a fountain which stood in in the same spot at the junction of Brook Street and The Grove which, like the contemporary version, was chosen via a public competition and funded through public donations when it was created in 1865.

The new gravity-fed fountain’s design has been created to reflect the sphagnum moss which is found in abundance on Ilkley Moor and filters and purifies water as well as being an important carbon store.

The team from Improving Ilkley and the designers will be making regular visits to James Wilkinson’s workshop over the coming months and will share regular updates on the progress of the build.

To help with the final fundraising push, go to: www.justgiving.com/campaign/improvingilkleyfountain