Fountain re-opens
London's Diana fountain to re-open, but with restrictions
LONDON (AFP) - An ill-fated new fountain in London commemorating Princess Diana is to re-open, but visitors will now not be allowed to splash around inside it for safety reasons, officials said.
The shallow oval channel filled with running water in the capital's Hyde Park closed last month after three people, one a child, slipped and injured themselves while cooling off in the summer heat.
Royal Parks, which manages Hyde Park and other green spaces around London, announced that the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain would officially re-open on August 20.
However wardens will restrict access to prevent it getting too crowded. An area around the fountain will be fenced off with visitors needing to enter via a gate.
They will then be able to paddle their feet or hands in the water, but will not be allowed to walk through the fountain or splash about, Royal Parks said.
The restriction is somewhat contrary to the original intention of the huge fountain, around 200 metres (660 feet) in circumference, designed by US architect Kathryn Gustafson as both a monument and a play area for children.
However it has been plagued with problems since being opened on July 6, with drains becoming blocked by leaves before the granite surface was found to be perilously slippy.