The first public water fountain in Penzance has been installed.

The project is a collaboration between Penzance Council, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Our Only World.

It supports the local effort to curb plastic waste by providing free and safe drinking water to the public.

Positioned conveniently beside the Wherrytown public toilet and Wherrytown skateboard plaza, the initiative was completed in time for the Easter holidays.

Penzance Council and associated partners established the fountain based on funds from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, 'Tacking the Emergensea' project by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and Penzance Council.

Cllr Stephen Reynolds, mayor of Penzance, said: "It’s been a great team effort to get this fountain up and running, but well worth it.

"Not only is it a great fit for our status as a plastic free community, it’s also perfectly placed for users of the skatepark and coastal path."

Falmouth Packet: The project is a collaboration between Penzance Council, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Our Only World

Penzance earned the distinction of being the first UK town to secure Plastic Free Coastline status from Surfers Against Sewage in 2017.

The concept aims to discourage reliance on single-use, disposable plastic such as drink bottles, not completely eliminate plastic use.

Last year, the council launched 'Refill PZ' in collaboration with Plastic Free Penzance and Sustainable Penzance.

The initiative helps both locals and tourists prevent the use of single-use plastic bottles.

However, there was no public access to a water fountain round the clock until now.

Katie Bellman, community engagement officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, added: "Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) are proud to be part of this huge collaborative effort within the Penzance community.

"This water refill station is an important step to making Penzance an environmentally resilient and sustainable town, reducing plastic waste and pollution entering our oceans."

Choosing an appropriate location and bearing installation and maintenance costs were challenging.

The officials are hopeful that the fountain will not face significant damage or vandalism, increasing costs for taxpayers.

Penzance Council officers plan to monitor the fountain’s use over the coming months to provide valuable insight into operating and maintenance costs for future considerations.

Nigel Pengelly, Penzance councillor for Penzance Promenade Ward, said: "Although a water fountain might appear to be an easy service to install, there has been a lot of research and work involved in the provision of this equipment.

"I'd like to thank Ben Brosgall and the other officers at Penzance Council for their hard work in making free drinking water a reality in Penzance."