The Diana Memorial Fountain – A Monument To Nanny Britain

After considerable delays, and at considerable cost (approximately £3.6m), the Diana Memorial Fountain was opened in London amid much hyperbole and razzmatazz.

Its design, we are told, is unique and “cutting edge” in the world of fountains.

However, as with all “unique” and “cutting edge” architectural designs, the fountain has had its fair share of problems.

It has had to be shut several times since its opening; owing to leaves blocking the water outlets, and people falling over in it.

A minister in Nanny’s government rushed to the fountain’s defence, and blamed the public for not using it properly. Extra park patrols and inspections have now been implemented, in order to prevent people and dogs from paddling in the fountain.

This “mini fiasco” bears all the hallmarks of the Nanny’s approach to government:

• The project was expensive and unnecessary, but it went ahead anyway.



• When problems emerged, Nanny sought to blame others; in this case she blamed the public.



• The fountain design has not been well thought through, and is unsuitable for the environment in which it has been placed. There are a multitude of Nanny’s projects with that as an epitaph.



• The solution to the fountain’s problems has been to increase inspections and patrols. How very typical of Nanny; when presented with a problem, such as declining standards in health care and education, Nanny’s response is to smother it with inspections and statistical analysis and to regulate it to death.

In my view, the fountain has become the ideal memorial to all that is shallow and inept about Nanny.