Future of historical bandstand hangs in balance

Eastbourne Bandstand attracts thousands of spectators to events each year

Councillors have delayed making a decision on whether to demolish parts of a Grade II-listed bandstand in East Sussex.

Work to restore and reopen the bandstand in Eastbourne is expected to involve removing elements thought to be structurally unsafe, including columns, beams and slabs.

But several organisations have questioned whether Eastbourne Borough Council has done enough to explore alternative ways to restore the structure, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Council officers said the planning committee should approve the plans but the vote on Tuesday was pushed back so Historic England could visit the site and give its views.

Damage to one of the columns at the bandstand

Hugh Parker, planning committee chairman, said: "I think it is very important that this particular situation is thoroughly discussed and that people have an opportunity to put their views forward in a co-ordinated and sensible manner.

"We cannot discuss properly, in my view, something which has incomplete information. I think we need that final comment or set of comments from Historic England to put their perspective on the whole consideration," he said.

"So this isn't shutting down any kind of discussion, this is simply saying we can have the discussion on another day."

Historic England is expected to visit the 90-year-old bandstand in the next few weeks, with the council saying it could "potentially" vote on the plans at a meeting in October.