THE appeal to safeguard the future of Swanage’s historic bandstand has now attracted pledges of more than £27,500.

Campaigners from the group Friends of Swanage Bandstand are thrilled with the amount promised, which may be used to bankroll a renovation of the site.

Earlier this year Swanage Town Council announced the bandstand site could be filled in by the end of August if no proposals for the site were forthcoming by the end of August.

But now, after a packed public meeting attended by 200 people, widespread public outcry and the setting up of the Friends group by campaigner Alan Houghton, the future does not look as bleak for the bandstand.

Mr Houghton said: “We are doing well with our appeal for pledges to save the bandstand, we now need £2,500 to get to £30,000, which is fantastic.

“It is also time to praise our council who have responded well to the strength of feeling about its restoration, and as a result have set up a working party of councillors that will allow us to have members on it.”

This working party will meet and report back to the full town council, next month, before any decision is made on the future of the bandstand.

Mr Houghton said: “With everybody’s continued support we will get it back, well done all of you.”

Swanage’s Victorian bandstand hit the headlines earlier this year.

The town council says the roof of the bandstand was declared structurally unsound during refurbishment works in 2012, which were taking place to address serious storm damage it had sustained previously.

Council officials have also pointed out that if the sunken site has to be filled in, the performance area at Prince Albert Gardens - where Swanage Town Band also play regularly - could be improved.

If you want to pledge funds then contact Alan Houghton, 3 Dingle Court, 29 De Moulham Road, Swanage, BH19 1NT.

Alternatively, contact him via al2lyho@talktalk.net or call him on 01929 426380.