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Town to restore former water pump after crash

Luke Deal,in Southwoldand
Ben Parker
Jonathan Kemp The old water pump, which is now a lamppost lies on the ground, a white van is resting on top of it. A cone has been placed close to where the bulb is in the post. Jonathan Kemp
The street lamp, which is a converted water pump, was knocked down during a collision on Sunday

A street lamp dating back to 1873 which was damaged in a car crash will be restored, the mayor of Southwold has promised.

It was knocked to the ground on Sunday morning in a collision involving a car and a white van.

Paula Goldsmith said she was told the van had been "shunted across the marketplace on to the pump".

"It was just awful really," she said. "It was originally a water pump for the town. When (Southwold went on to the mains) it became a decorative feature but it is also the streetlamp for the marketplace as well."

She said the "iconic feature" would be restored "as soon as possible."

Luke Deal/BBC Paula Goldsmith wearing glasses and a purple jumper. Trees and fields are in the background.Luke Deal/BBC
Southwold's mayor Paula Goldsmith said the former water pump would be restored

Goldsmith said power to the street lamp needed to be cut off before it could be removed for the restoration.

She hoped insurance would cover the costs.

"It will be an expensive process because it will be a specialist job," she added.

There were no reported injuries or arrests after Sunday's incident.

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