"This is one of Bournemouth's last remaining traditions" - councillor's appeal to support town's historic bandstand

Cllr Anne Rey, independent councillor for Throop and Muscliff, will use the next full council meeting to appeal to her colleagues to support the bandstand.

Bournemouth council has steadily reduced the level of expenses paid to performers over the past decade but has now announced all payments will be scrapped.

The decision is due to budget cuts but Cllr Rey said it was short-sighted.

"This is one of Bournemouth's last remaining traditions where thousands of residents and visitors have spent hundreds of hours listening to the various bands and entertainers in our beautiful gardens," she said.

"If it is a matter of paying expenses to the bands I would be quite willing to donate £100 from my Local Improvement Fund each year and I would imagine my colleagues would too.

"There are so many local talented musicians in our town and we do not want to lose this amenity."

Bournemouth's well-regarded brass band Bournemouth Concert Brass has already said it could be forced out of the Pinewalk bandstand because of the council's decision.

Resident conductor Bill Willis said: "We very much want to perform in the bandstand this year but there are costs the band has to meet to be able to perform.

"As an amateur group we rely on member subscriptions, concert revenue and donations to continue to exist."

Jon Weaver, head of resort marketing and events, said: “The council would like to reiterate that although the need to make significant savings has resulted in not being able to pay acts to perform, the bandstand is still available free of charge as a venue for bands to perform.

"We have also taken measures to support performers by allowing sponsorship of performances and the collection of donations and merchandising goods to assist with bands’ costs.

"The programme of events in the bandstand is filling up and will continue to be an attraction in the Lower Gardens throughout the summer. “