Verdin Park bandstand to be demolished? (From Northwich Guardian)

Verdin Park bandstand to be demolished?

8:30am Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Gina Bebbington

A BANDSTAND built to commemorate the centenary of Northwich Carnival could be demolished.

The bandstand in Verdin Park, which was built in 1988, has been closed because of safety fears.

Routine repair work to the structure, used during the crowning ceremony of the annual carnival, revealed damage to the steel framework which supports the floor and pillars.

Northwich Town Council, which owns the park and the bandstand, has been given quotes of £5,200 to repair it compared to £1,100 to demolish it.

Chris Shaw, council clerk, said: “It was built in 1988 to celebrate the centenary of Northwich Carnival and was opened by Clr Ron Woodier.

“It’s only used once a year and is prone to graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

“The cost of a stage to hire is £750.

“We would look to rebuild the bandstand in future as part of the regeneration of the entire park.”

Town mayor Clr George Mainwaring suggested that the council could help the carnival committee fund staging for the event.

“If it’s wanted by the carnival committee, and I think we support the carnival committee, at that time we could give them a donation for a temporary bandstand,” he said.

Deputy mayor Clr Bob Robinson explained that the structure had been built by Job Creation in the 1980s.

“It was Job Creation, not skilled builders, consequently what happened was that the structures that go in the ground have rotted.”

Clr Kevin Rimmer added: “They did a good enough job with what was available at the time for it to last for 30 years.”

The council agreed that the decision to repair or demolish the bandstand would be put to the town council’s amenities committee.