BURY BANDSTAND
Support a NEW Bandstand in
the Abbey Gardens
The Leaflet Page
SUPPORT FOR A BANDSTAND IN THE ABBEY GARDENS, BURY ST EDMUNDS
Are you organisers in Bury St Edmunds who might like to use a new Bandstand in the Abbey Gardens to showcase your talents? eg Schools, Theatre Groups, Musicians, etc?
Or are you a member of the public who would enjoy a Bandstand?
If so, please send us a letter or email, addressed "To Whom It May Concern", giving your thoughts and preferred position for the Bandstand, and we will pass it on to the main decision makers and also add it to our website. Even if your organisation has already written, please also write or email yourself, as total numbers supporting a bandstand are very important.
To view what others have said about a Bandstand please visit our web site: www.burybandstand.co.uk and go to the FEEDBACK page.
The last bandstand in the Abbey Gardens was demolished more than 50 years ago. Many people regret the loss of a bandstand and would like to see a new one erected. The photograph shows our suggested 10 metre diameter Victorian style bandstand in the Cloister Garden, positioned approximately 4 metres in from the existing asphalt access path.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council are now submitting a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund
for extensive refurbishment of the Abbey Gardens. Go to www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/play/abbeygardensfuture.cfm
to see their proposals -
We urgently need to demonstrate public support for a permanently covered venue of at least 10 metres diameter which also could be used for shelter and enjoyment in all weathers – doubling as a bandstand, mainly on weekend afternoons.
After discussions Church Walks Charities have had with the Bury Society, English Heritage, Suffolk County Council Archaeology Department and St Edmundsbury Borough Council Parks Manager, we are confident that plans for the Abbey Gardens could include a Bandstand, provided the decision makers are convinced this is what residents want.
We believe the best position for a Bandstand is in the Cloister Gardens, at the east end of the Rose Garden, because this area has the best acoustics, with good vision for the audience and could also provide a seated quiet shelter at other times, to enhance enjoyment of this important area in all seasons and weathers, without damaging the setting. It would cause the least disruption for people using the gardens for other activities, with the audience and performers [usually amateurs] not being distracted, and is acceptably close to the toilets. However, this is not supported by all as the best position in the Abbey Gardens. What are your thoughts?
We hope to be able to raise the cost of the enterprise via an appeal for funds. The bandstand would be run as a charity and thus not become a burden on the Council Tax payer (a rough estimate of the total cost is £60,000).
We now urgently need to further convince our decision makers of the need and desire for a bandstand by local people and visitors.
Please copy or download this leaflet and distribute to others who may be interested; talk to your friends and neighbours and bring the matter up for discussion at any clubs, groups or organisations, to which you may belong; and above all encourage everyone to write to us.
Many thanks
Church Walks Charities [Bandstand Support]
26 Church Walks
Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1NJ
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