LOCALS were left gutted after the council scrapped a beloved family attraction, after promises for it to be returned.
Derby City Council confirmed there are “no plans” to resurrect the city’s popular attraction after it was axed in July 2019.
The iconic Market Place waterfall was commissioned in 1995, and quickly became a recognisable feature of Derby Promenade.
Tory administration estimated it would cost £32,000 a year to keep going in 2017, and two years later it was closed to be “redesigned.”
Chaddesden resident Mary Hart told Derbyshire Live: “It’s typical, isn’t it?
“We can’t even afford to have a bit of water running in one of the busiest places in town.”
Mary used to take her grandchildren out to the waterfall to play during the summer months.
The concrete slab remains in the centre of town but with no water flowing through the it, leaving an eerie concrete slab.
She added: “I just laugh nowadays, I have stopped caring.
“It’s the young people who will miss out, they won’t know the Derby we know, and that’s sad, but what can we do?”
The waterfall was switched off in 2016 for maintenance costs and vandalism fees, but after immense pushback from townsfolk, the water began flowing again in 2018.
Unfortunately the year after it was turned off again with a council spokesperson announcing it was being re-designated as a “confined space due to restricted access.”
The spokesperson added: “Work is underway to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency.”
For the last half a decade the treasured waterfall has remained dry as a bone, and finally the council has addressed the issue.
To the dismay of locals, Councillor Nadien Peatfield announced there were “no plans” to switch the waterfall back on again after the five-year wait
The once cherished attraction is now covered with grime and bird droppings and is home to a flock of pigeons.
Without the water flowing through it, locals struggle to see the point of the feature in the centre of their city.
“It just gets dirtier and dirtier,” Sarah Young, from Mackworth, complained.
“It seems to be more run down whenever I look at it.
“They need to fix it soon – or at least give it a regular wash – otherwise, you may as well just knock it down.
“It has absolutely no purpose.”
The Derby Cascade, designed by William Pye, is a distinctive memory for many locals who grew up in the area.
The 3.5m high waterfall was initially erected after a competition organised by the Public Art Commissions Agency.
Behind the cascade there is enough space to walk behind the curtain of water, offering the sensation of wandering behind a waterfall.
Adam Kelly remembers the water feature fondly from his childhood, and thinks turning it back on would “put a bit of life back in the town.”
He said: “I was one of the kids who grew up using the waterfall, running around and getting wet.
“My grandparents couldn’t stand having to dry us all off before getting the bus, but my cousins and I used to enjoy it so much”, he chuckled.
“I’m not an expert on things like this, but I suppose it isn’t too much trouble to turn it back on, but with the cost of bills nowadays, you never know.”
While he would love to see it open he understands it’s not a priority.
“We’re all used to it now, and it’s too late to turn it on for Christmas, so maybe by the summer, they could have it sorted.”
When it was first designed, the waterfall was met with mixed reactions as many had requested a traditional fountain.
Locals and visitors then become attached to the unique feature and are devasted to hear it won’t return, despite attempts to make the Market Place the new “cultural heart of the city.”
Councillor Peatfield said: “The Market Place is a key part of our plans to create a new cultural heart of the city and we continue to work closely with our preferred strategic development partners, Vinci Developments UK and ION developments, on their masterplan, which includes the Market Place and areas surrounding it.”
The Sun has reached out to Derby City Council for a comment.
GREGG Wallace has slashed the prices on his healthy eating website, as he attempts to cash in before his MasterChef axe.
The Masterchef star has told friends he expects to be sacked following an investigation into his alleged sexual harassment and groping.
And several women have come forward about his behaviour, prompting the review.
Now, over on Gregg’s health website where he offers various membership plans, £40 has been slashed off the annual plans, which were originally £90.
This is a new development on the website that occurred this week.
A pop up on his site reads: “get £40 off the annual subscription. At less than £1 a week, it’s the easiest decision you’ll make for your health this year. Join us today and transform your life with GreggWallace.Health!”
MasterChef’s Gregg launched his website to help people lose weight and keep it off.
The first page sees photos of the TV star, as well as Gregg’s story on how he lost five stone which, he tells visitors “isn’t by dieting.”
The price slash comes as Wallace stopped using his pricey legal team as he resigned himself to the MasterChef sack.
The under-fire presenter has also turned down crisis-publicity teams in the weeks after several women complained he groped or harassed them.
The BBC1 show’s production firm Banijay UK launched a probe last month and Wallace, 60, has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
But those close to him said he understood his position on MasterChef was no longer tenable.
A source said: “Gregg’s conceded he has lost everything. To put it bluntly, he’s told people, ‘I’m f***ed’.
“He came out swinging but he has quietly conceded that he knows his time on MasterChef is over and that he will be stepping aside.
“He has contested the sexual allegations and insisted any jokes he made were just jokes. He said he never meant to cause any offence.
GREGG Wallace has stepped down from his MasterChef hosting role after a probe into alleged inappropriate behaviour. But what's the situation?
Regular MasterChef host Gregg Wallace is currently the subject of a probe after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years.
Gregg has been accused of making sexual remarks to 13 colleagues including Beeb anchor Kirsty Wark – accusations he denies.
The 60-year-old has now stepped away from the BBC show while historical misconduct allegations against him are investigated.
Yet the former greengrocer spoke out on social media to blast the “women of a certain age” who he claimed were behind the allegations.
The cooking show’s production company, Banijay UK, has said law firm Lewis Silkin would lead the investigation into Wallace’s alleged misconduct.
“Gregg has been under a huge amount of pressure since the allegations came to light and tried his best to fight his corner.
“The BBC and Banijay UK have now spoken to a number of different individuals and they know they must be seen to take action.
“Gregg knows the time will come when he has to step aside and as much as that pains him, it seems he has come to terms with it.”
MAX George has revealed he will undergo emergency heart surgery.
The 36-year-old singer and actor took to social media to update fans with a photo of himself surrounded by wires and medical equipment while giving a thumbs-up.
Max was admitted to hospital last week with heart issues and has been undergoing tests as doctors investigate what’s wrong.
In his latest post, The Wanted singer explained that a recent CT scan showed concerning results.
He said: “Had a little day trip today. Full cat scan on my heart. Not something I’d choose to do again!”
Max went on to share that he has been diagnosed with a 2:1 heart block, a condition where the heart’s electrical signals are disrupted.
He added his heart rate has remained stubbornly low for almost a week.
“Unfortunately my heart rate hasn’t picked up at all in almost a week,” he wrote.
“Because of this, we don’t have too much time to wait, so it looks like I’m going to be in surgery way quicker than the doctors first thought. I may even be home for Christmas!”
Max admitted the situation has been frightening, particularly over the past few nights.
“Still a pretty scary time right now and the last few nights have been really rough, but I wanted to say that I’m absolutely humbled by all your messages of support,” he added.
“Both people I know and those I don’t. It’s given me a much-needed boost and my family have been overwhelmed with support, which means more to me than anything.”
Fans and well-wishers flooded his post with messages of support, hoping for a speedy recovery as Max prepares for surgery.
One of his followers shared: “You’re so strong and amazing Max I believe you will be just fine. That’s the inner Manc in you sending you all the love and positivity.”
Max previously told fans he thinks he will be fitted with a pacemaker.
He said: “My heart rate is really, really low, which they are monitoring 24/7. Everyone has been amazing but the waiting bit is tough, do you know what I mean?
“But yeah, it is just one of those things unfortunately and whatever I get I have just got to get on with it really and we are hoping pacemaker. Pacemaker is good.”
His shock hospital admission comes two years after his Wanted bandmate and best pal Tom Parker died of brain cancer aged just 33.
Max went sober after he was told by a doctor his liver count was low following years of boozing on tour.
