THE town council has moved to reassure residents following complaints that the newly-restored Great Wall water feature had stopped running.

The waterfall was switched back on for the first time in 35 years last month as a tribute to local people lost to Covid-19 on the anniversary of the first nationwide lockdown.

But residents who have visited since to see the waterfall in action have been left disappointed to find the pump has been switched off.

In a social media post, Councillor Tracey Onslow said "it wouldn't be environmentally friendly" for the waterfall to be switched on permanently, prompting complaints from disappointed residents.

One person said: "Very disappointing and sad. This is hardly a fitting memorial to all those who have lost their lives to Covid and their families. I imagine a lot of people feel very let down by this."

Another wrote: "Why on earth isn't it a recirculating pump so the water just goes round and round and only needs to be topped up occasionally? Seems to me this is an ill thought out publicity stunt that has backfired badly on those involved when it could have been a wonderful distinctive addition to Kidderminster."

Kidderminster Town Council has since confirmed that the waterfall will be switched on every weekend once final checks have been carried out.

Town clerk Tony Bierne told The Shuttle: "The waterfall was switched on to commemorate the Covid anniversary, but it is still going through final testing, with a plan for it to be up and running by the end of the month.

"Because it's working off a tank, we have to get the flow right, otherwise it would be splashing everywhere and emptying very quickly. We have contractors working on that now.

"We plan to run the waterfall every Friday through to Sunday. The waterfall itself will be turned on all day and it will be lit up when it gets dark - so later in the summer months and earlier during the winter.

"It will also be switched on for special occasions such as commemorative days."