Bandstand comes down

Andover’s Vigo Road bandstand has now been demolished. At this stage it is appropriate that we look at how this came to pass and what lessons we learn from it.

The bandstand hasn’t been used as a bandstand since the 1960s. Most recently it was used as an aviary and many locals fondly remember the budgies in there. They were re-housed two years ago when changes in animal welfare legislation made it impossible to keep them there any more. Their removal in no way affected the integrity of, or future uses for, the building. Neither does the fact that once someone let a cat into the aviary.

Since then the building has been left empty, boarded up and frequently vandalised. The costs of repairing damage have run into thousands of pounds but at no time has anyone from Test Valley thought what should we do with this important local landmark. In May of this year TVBC Leisure department arranged a survey of the building and found it to be beyond repair. They submitted a recommendation to Cllr Mrs Noakes, cabinet member for Leisure that it be removed. Mrs Noakes, together with Cllr Ian Carr, leader of the Council authorised its immediate demolition. It was not unsafe and was in no danger of falling down. This has since been confirmed by council officers and by the fact that it withstood fairly heavy treatment in its demolition.

The decision was discussed informally by cabinet members, but at no time were other councillors informed or consulted. To date neither Cllrs Noakes nor Carr have felt the need to contact any of the three councillors in whose ward the bandstand stood and discuss the matter. The first they knew of the demolition was when they heard from the local press at least a month after the decision was made.

Since then Cllrs Gates and Bailey have had detailed conversations with council officers about the bandstand. Unfortunately, the bandstand was beyond repair, refurbishment or relocation elsewhere. The only reason for its removal was to get it out of the way in time for the BigFest on August 15th. This is despite the fact that the plans for the BigFest show all activities taking place at the other end of the park. Any attempt to postpone demolition would be referred to the next cabinet meeting in September. In other words it was coming down within the next week whatever local members said or did.

They did manage to agree with officers that we and a representative of the local history society could attend the demolition to ensure as much as possible of the building and its history could be saved. To that end Cllrs Len Gates and Mike McGarry and David Borrett checked the building before work started and monitored the works. As a result the weathervane and an engraved beam (previously unknown to council officers) were saved. Nothing else could be saved, a sad end to a much loved building.

Talking since to residents it is apparent there is a need and demand for a replacement. Andover Lib Dems will be pushing for this as soon as possible. We also need to ask why and how it came to this stage that there was no option but demolition. And we need some explanations and apologies from Cllrs Carr and Noakes who have lost touch with Andover, its people and their views.