Multi-million pound repair programme for Eastbourne Bandstand backed

On Monday (March 16), Eastbourne Borough Council leaders agreed to set aside up to £3m to carry out the “most urgent” repairs needed. 

Council officials and conservationists say that without the investment in the Bandstand, the seafront venue will have to close for health and safety reasons.

Margaret Bannister, the council’s lead member for tourism, said: “There will probably be some more works we have to do at a later date, but for the moment we are just concentrating on these. 

“The Bandstand is most used in the whole of the world. It has the most concerts out of anywhere. This is something we need to maintain. 

“This proposal is subject to continual review, so we will be keeping an eye on what is being spent and the work that is being done. We just really want to keep this building in use.”

In the long term, the repair programme could cost as much as £8m in a “worst scenario”, minus the approved works expected to cost somewhere in the region of £3m. 

Plans to include a ‘heritage contribution’ on top of the ticket price for events at the Bandstand have already been approved by the council

Temporary repairs have already begun ahead of the 2020 season at the venue, with the rest of the works due to take place after the summer.

But with the coronavirus pandemic expected to have an impact on tourist numbers this summer, cabinet member for finance Steve Holt asked if it may be possible to begin the main body of repairs sooner. 

Earlier in the meeting, council leader David Tutt told councillors he had written to the chancellor, asking the government to introduce financial relief for areas hit by reduced tourism. 

Cllr Holt said: “We had a timetable laid out before today and I dare say there is now going to a timetable realised post-today in light of the coronavirus.

“If the Bandstand and its tourist events aren’t due to go ahead this season, could we actually look at doing these works a bit sooner to take advantage of that?”

In response, officers said the possibility of earlier works would be considered as more information becomes clear in the coming weeks.

Huw Oxburgh , Local Democracy Reporting Service