Town set to strike right note with bandstand (From The Oxford Times)
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Town set to strike right note with bandstand
5:00pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Abingdon
ABINGDON could belatedly get a bandstand in the park as organisers look to splash £55,000 on marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Abingdon Town Council has put aside £40,000 for a four-day celebration in June which will include a party in Ock Street and another bun-throwing.
It is also proposing to spend about £15,000 on a bandstand to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne – but it is unlikely to be built this year.
Council leader Sandy Lovatt said the council had saved cash over two years but was looking for donations and sponsors to offset the cost.
Steve Rich, musical director of Abingdon Town Band, said Abbey Gardens would be a great spot for it.
He said: “This is something we have been looking at for about 20 or 30 years.
“It would be something for all kinds of bands and societies to use and it would be a fantastic addition to the town.”
Comments(9)
steve king
says...
7:16pm Fri 3 Feb 12
davidofabingdon
says...
9:31am Sat 4 Feb 12
Perhaps the herald ought to publish the budget for the jubilee so that we can see where it is going.
Personally I would much rather see money spent on something of lasting benefit and legacy to the town.
Lemonyellow
says...
11:51am Sat 4 Feb 12
Abberdon
says...
12:12pm Sat 4 Feb 12
Why not get Trotmans to supply the Jubliee Buns and save money with their donation?
The statue should go to the beer garden at the Nags Head, so much closer to the riverbed, where it belongs, and the bandstand should go into the market place where the current rather ugly shopping precinct is.
Am I missing something here?
Is there an actual researched need for a bandstand of a permanent nature in Abberdon?
Or is this just to be a begging bowl facility for The Salvo's to blast out their godly muzac and gather in gold coins (in the hope they will go away)?
I like bands, and bandstands do present a good means to get music to people, but the Abbey Gardens is an out of the way place, whereas the marketplace is central.
Abingdon Neil
says...
3:52pm Sun 5 Feb 12
I assume it would be in Abbey Grounds rather than the formal garden bit? I would support this, but would also like to see it tied in with further general improvements to the Abbey Grounds, Abbey Meadow and Open Air Pool area.
The problem with using the Market Place is that it would get in the way of the very successful markets and events that have developed very well over the last few years.
On the overall cost of the jubilee celebrations I agree with the other comments above. Whilst I and many others look forward to a traditional bun-throwing and local street parties, that does seem to be an excessive amount of money to spend at a time when budgets are tight and other local services are facing the squeeze.
colbart
says...
10:53am Tue 7 Feb 12
Individual Street parties may have difficulty being granted.
Abingdon Neil
says...
4:41pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Quite a few are already being planned, but they can take place off road, on green spaces etc.
Jimjamiejonboy
says...
2:31pm Wed 8 Feb 12
abingdonguy says...
5:49pm Fri 3 Feb 12