A new water feature is to replace the fountain in Dover’s Market Square – in a bid to beat vandalism.

Hundreds of pounds have been spent on repairing the fountain when it has been vandalised, or contaminated with detergent.

The water feature will be part of the £1.685 million regeneration plans for the area.

The fountain has not been brought back since it was taken away for the winter, because the upkeep costs are too high.

Now the mayor of Dover, Cllr Chris Precious, has confirmed that a new feature, similar to the ground-level installation in Folkestone’s Harbour Square, will be created. This will mean that when it is switched off it can still be used as an open space.

Market Square will be the central point of the regeneration which, it is hoped, will be made possible by a grant from the Coastal Community Fund.

Cllr Precious said: “This is the first time that area of the town has been looked at as a whole, so it’s very exciting. The hope is that we could start next year. Once the road work chaos is out of the way, we can make progress on making the town even more attractive to visitors.”

The plan for Market Square would be to create a more welcoming open space for functions and the market, install the water feature and new paving, refurbish the underpass, plant trees and flowers and improve public transport.

It is also suggested that two modern art features could be placed there, as well as a crown flower decoration for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

If funding can not be secured, Cllr Precious said paying for the fountain between Dover Town Council and Dover District Council was “do-able”.

He said: “My personal view is the fountain is a good start with the regeneration of the Market Square area. It would show a positive step forward.”