Concerns were raised over the location of a water feature on the busy Heatherwood roundabout and a lobby of residents and parish councillors against the fountain saw the plan shelved by the Royal Borough.

It was hoped the fountain would form part of a memorial to fallen war horses and raise £1m for equine and military charities. It was due to be named in honour of the Commonwealth but is now being reviewed by the council’s leisure services team.

Alan Carr, a philanthropist backing the memorial, said there were 'no sour grapes’ over the withdrawal of the plans. He said: “It was opposition by all the various groups that led to the withdrawal of the plan. If that’s the residents’ view then we must listen, there’s no sour grapes. I thought it would improve Ascot and be a fantastic gateway but at the end of the day it’s not what the residents wanted. Maybe I didn’t get it right, I thought overall it would make a fitting gateway into Ascot and a memorial to the war horses – but in its current form it’s not right.” The application being considered was only for the fountain. However, the full memorial, comprised of three parts – the fountain, a horse statue mounted on a plinth, and 10 seven-metre high flagpoles – is now under review.

A vocal campaigner against the plan, parish councillor Barbara Hilton, said: “There was really only one conclusion, it should have been withdrawn. I think it had not been well drawn out. We’re not opposed to a fountain per se.” Mrs Hilton is also chairman of Sunninghill and Ascot parish council’s planning committee and says the project would suit the high street when it is developed.

She said: “There is a plan to develop Ascot on the southern side of the road and I am sure that’s a place for the fountain or the statue or both when it’s finished.” The neighbourhood plan delivery group released a statement saying they were relieved the plan had been dropped. It said: “We were relieved to hear on Friday that RBWM leisure services have decided to withdraw the planning application for the illuminated jet fountain.

“In line with what local residents have said to us, the NP Delivery Group is in favour of a war horse memorial...We have put forward the suggestion that this should ideally be located somewhere where as many people as possible can see and appreciate it.

“One such option would be as a centrepiece to an open piazza that will, we hope, form part of the rejuvenated centre of Ascot.”