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Council to stump up to save bandstand
A seafront bandstand left derelict for three decades will be restored to its former glory, The Argus can reveal.
Conservative councillor Geoffrey Theobald has drawn up plans to have the dilapidated Brighton bandstand brought back into use by next summer.
A bid had been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £500,000, with £300,000 set aside in the council coffers.
But the application has faced a series of setbacks and Brighton and Hove City Council has now decided to fund the project itself including a cafe under the bandstand.
Coun Theobald said he did not want to wait any longer as the cost of restoration mounted after each storm.
He said: "It is much better for us to do it ourselves so we can do it as quickly as possible.
"It is a blight on our seafront and there are so many good things about this city.
"The restoration is very important for our visitors and tourists who come from all over the world to Brighton and Hove's seafront.
"We have already gone though the problems with the West Pier and I do not want to take a risk with the bandstand."
A report will be submitted to the council's policy and resources meeting in July and while the final pricing has yet to have drawn up, if approved, it will cost in the region of £500,000.
Coun Theobald said funding the scheme would require savings from elsewhere in the budget given the council's tight finances but he would not reveal where the money would come from.
Councillor Gill Mitchell, the leader of the Labour opposition, had been working on the Birdcage bandstand restoration before the election.
She said she had become frustrated with the heritage lottery process but that a plan B, at no cost to the taxpayer, had been devised which would have seen a private partner renovate the structure in exchange for the rent of a cafe below.
Gill Mitchell said: "What I find very strange is that we spent all this time creating two approaches - we have got eight weeks to wait before the lottery decision and at the same time we have put together what I thought was a really good plans B - and now the Conservatives are looking to finding the money but not saying where it is from."
Patricia Horne, the chairwoman of the Save our Brighton Bandstand, said the group would continue to raise money which could be invested in the bandstand or other seafront improvements
She said: "I am delighted with the news.
"I have got a reasonable amount of trust in the new Conservative group but we need to keep the pressure up and make sure it is done to the highest standard with a state-of-the-art bandstand."
4:21am Wednesday 27th June 2007
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CommentPosted by: john knight, brighton on 6:53am Wed 27 Jun 07
about time too, I walk past this structure every day.
It's about time this council got off their fat backsides and did something costructive instead of talking.
This applies to lots more things in brighton, which are only talked about.
I'd like to see them all on Dragons Den, they wouldn't last five minutes.
about time too, I walk past this structure every day.
It's about time this council got off their fat backsides and did something costructive instead of talking.
This applies to lots more things in brighton, which are only talked about.
I'd like to see them all on Dragons Den, they wouldn't last five minutes.
Posted by: rob, brighton on 8:55am Wed 27 Jun 07
If Gill Mitchell genuinely has the interests of the bandstand and the town at heart she will undoubtedly share details of her really good plan B with the Tories.
They may not be known for their willingness to invest in this sort of project but the bandstand - like the West Pier and St Peter's Church - are landmark buildings and symbols of our town.
The condition of landmark buildings is an indicator of, among other things, the health of the local political leadership.
In the case of St Peter's, it also indicates the state of the leadership of the Church of England locally. The very fact it's closure is being considered is a sign that the Bishop and the Archdeacon may not be up to the job. I find it hard to imagine Archbishop John Sentamu advancing similar arguments in relation to York Cathedral.
Regarding Gill Mitchell's point about where the money will come from, it would be reassuring to see more openness from the Tories than we've seen in the past, especially as they are dealing with public money and public policy in this instance.
In the end it doesn't matter which party it is, the bandstand should be restored. So many people have been crying out for this to happen for so long. The fact that it didn't happen may have contributed to people's loss of patience with Labour.
If Gill Mitchell genuinely has the interests of the bandstand and the town at heart she will undoubtedly share details of her really good plan B with the Tories.
They may not be known for their willingness to invest in this sort of project but the bandstand - like the West Pier and St Peter's Church - are landmark buildings and symbols of our town.
The condition of landmark buildings is an indicator of, among other things, the health of the local political leadership.
In the case of St Peter's, it also indicates the state of the leadership of the Church of England locally. The very fact it's closure is being considered is a sign that the Bishop and the Archdeacon may not be up to the job. I find it hard to imagine Archbishop John Sentamu advancing similar arguments in relation to York Cathedral.
Regarding Gill Mitchell's point about where the money will come from, it would be reassuring to see more openness from the Tories than we've seen in the past, especially as they are dealing with public money and public policy in this instance.
In the end it doesn't matter which party it is, the bandstand should be restored. So many people have been crying out for this to happen for so long. The fact that it didn't happen may have contributed to people's loss of patience with Labour.
Posted by: Long Time No See on 9:39am Wed 27 Jun 07
yes This is GREAT news
thanks to New London Road Greggs
and 75p Tea with Real Milk
bands Will Play on the Bandstand
FACT!
yes This is GREAT news
thanks to New London Road Greggs
and 75p Tea with Real Milk
bands Will Play on the Bandstand
FACT!
Posted by: Peter Green, West Sussex on 9:43am Wed 27 Jun 07
[bold]Wow ! They acted quickly, only 30 years,
perhaps there may now be an outside chance that our beautiful railings will also get a good lick of paint,
covered in rust with great chunks of paint peeling off,not to mention the decaying wooden rails, they our a disgrace to this once proud city.
I could not believe my eyes when last week I walked from Brunswick Square all along the lower prom to the PALACE pier and back again along the top promnade.
I would be embarrassed to bring any friends here and show them our once proud seafront with broken uneven paving stones,dilapidated shelters and rusting rails.
And while I am having a whinge, what about those once lovely mosaics near the childrens pool bandstand, only put down a few years ago and with loads of tiles missing they now look like a relic from days gone by[bold]bold[/bold] ,
perhaps we should get our money back on that one !
I'll believe it when I see it ! The new football ground,the Brighton eye,The Bandstand,etc etc etc.
We have heard it all before..
Excuse me if I sound just a tad cynical, but perhaps they should get Lord Lucan, along with Elvis riding Shergar to open the the restored Bandstand.[/bold]
Wow ! They acted quickly, only 30 years,
perhaps there may now be an outside chance that our beautiful railings will also get a good lick of paint,
covered in rust with great chunks of paint peeling off,not to mention the decaying wooden rails, they our a disgrace to this once proud city.
I could not believe my eyes when last week I walked from Brunswick Square all along the lower prom to the PALACE pier and back again along the top promnade.
I would be embarrassed to bring any friends here and show them our once proud seafront with broken uneven paving stones,dilapidated shelters and rusting rails.
And while I am having a whinge, what about those once lovely mosaics near the childrens pool bandstand, only put down a few years ago and with loads of tiles missing they now look like a relic from days gone by ,
perhaps we should get our money back on that one !
I'll believe it when I see it ! The new football ground,the Brighton eye,The Bandstand,etc etc etc.
We have heard it all before..
Excuse me if I sound just a tad cynical, but perhaps they should get Lord Lucan, along with Elvis riding Shergar to open the the restored Bandstand. Posted by: graham, bton on 2:35pm Wed 27 Jun 07
After the stupid idea of putting car parks under the Steine, here's another headline grabbing govern by popular opinion headline.
So if the money is found from cutting budgets, is it from a front line service? which vulnerable group of people are going to have to suffer just so we can say 'nice bandstand'? Come on Tories, come clean.
After the stupid idea of putting car parks under the Steine, here's another headline grabbing govern by popular opinion headline.
So if the money is found from cutting budgets, is it from a front line service? which vulnerable group of people are going to have to suffer just so we can say 'nice bandstand'? Come on Tories, come clean.
Posted by: Trevor, Hove on 8:51am Thu 28 Jun 07
Is there a 'save the bandstand' group in existance?. If so I would like to join
Is there a 'save the bandstand' group in existance?. If so I would like to join
Posted by: Patrick, Kemptown on 10:07am Wed 28 Nov 07
[quote][bold]Trevor[/bold] wrote:
Is there a 'save the bandstand' group in existance?. If so I would like to join[/quote] So would I.
Trevor wrote:
Is there a 'save the bandstand' group in existance?. If so I would like to join
So would I.
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