THE FUTURE of a historic water fountain could be resolved later this month as councillors vote to kick-start a long stalled £18 million city centre regeneration project.

Councillors are likely to vote whether to retain the 80-year-old Mazda Fountain when they meet to discuss the future of Valley Gardens at the end of the month.

Previous designs for the city centre scheme planned for its replacement with modern and more efficient fountains but Labour gave the landmark a reprieve when they came into office in 2015 and reviewed the entire scheme.

Following new tests into traffic flows, finetuning of designs and further consultation, work could begin on the scheme next spring – seven years after it was first proposed.

Earlier this month council leader Warren Morgan warned that opposition parties may vote to have it removed but Conservatives have said they will listen to options to retain the water feature which was donated to the city in 1930 by the Thompson-Houston company following an exhibition.

A petition to save the fountain in 2015 attracted more than 1,500 signatures and offers are still being received by the authority to help retain it.

The previous Green administration had argued for its removal claiming the fountain cost twice the amount to run as a modern replacement at £9,000-a-year and needed £30,000 investment to its lighting.

Cllr Morgan Warren said: "There was a clear message from over a thousand residents two years ago that the Mazda Fountain is a valued part of our heritage.

“It's been restored using donations and just today I've passed a generous offer of help to officers leading the Valley Gardens project. There seems to be a willingness on the part of the opposition to reconsider their previously stated position in response to the considerable amount of work done to revise the project over the past two years, and I welcome that."

Cllr Lee Wares, Conservative environment, transport and sustainability spokesman, said: “If the Labour administration have now found the money to keep the fountain, we will listen to what they have to say and if the business case makes sense, we will consider supporting them.

“Of course, we will need assurances that this isn’t some folly and we don’t retain a fountain that only works intermittently with high running costs.”

Cllr Leo Littman, Green environment, transport and sustainability spokesman, said the Labour council had found “another excuse” for their total lack of action on a scheme which was handed to them on a plate by the outgoing Green administration.

He said: “Instead of seizing an opportunity to transform the city centre, Cllr Morgan has yanked on the handbrake and would rather focus attention on the Mazda fountain as an excuse for their inaction.

“Valley Gardens could be a wonderful tranquil centrepiece for Brighton and Hove, full of greenery and improved water-features. Sadly whilst Labour drag their heels, residents and visitors are left choking on traffic fumes.”