A REPLACEMENT bandstand in Calverley Grounds is being considered by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the Kent and Sussex Courier can reveal.

Plans to demolish the focal point have been put on the back burner by the council which wants to investigate funding for a new structure.

A mystery sponsor – who wants to remain anonymous – has pledged to invest a "substantial" amount of money to fund it.

And the council has said, given the strength of public support for the much-loved landmark, it will hold fire on lodging an application to bulldoze.

Council's head of leisure services Nigel Bolton said: "If it is feasible to fund a bandstand then it is a matter of getting the right bandstand in the right position. We are looking into how we are going to move this forward.

"What we are doing is looking at the strength of public opinion. There is a great volume of people who are saying there should be a bandstand in Calverley Grounds.

"But we can't say we are going to replace it for sure.

"It will go to cabinet for a decision."

Portfolio holder for leisure Cllr James Scholes warned it would take some time before the situation was resolved.

"It is a substantial amount of money on offer from the sponsor. But until you establish what the costs are you can't take it further.

"There are two or three things to decide. Whether we want one and then the standard to which you want it. Then setting up a trust for how much money you can get and how it will be used. There are quite a few things to sort out. It will take some time."

Cllr Scholes added he had also been approached by a number of professional people offering their services in building a bandstand which would "save the council money".

The bandstand was fenced off last week by the council following advice contained in a structural report published last week.

If you want to see the landmark preserved in the short term and replaced with a new inspiring design in the future add your name to our Save our Bandstand petition on www.thisiskent.co.uk/bandstandpetition or fill in the form. Our petition, which currently stands at just under 2,100, will be presented to the council's planning department as an official objection to the plans.

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