Eastbourne Bandstand: Council Targets £1.5 Billion Culture Fund

The Cabinet Member for Tourism at Eastbourne Borough Council has confirmed that the authority will ‘fast track’ an application to the government’s new £1.5 billion fund for cultural venues.

Councillor Jenny Williams has welcomed the government’s announcement and is in no doubt that the Bandstand must be one of the 1,000 venues that the government has promised to support.

Councillor Williams said:

“We applied to this government and the last one for Bandstand funding without success, but our lobbying has continued and this latest heritage revival fund appears tailor made for our much-loved attraction.

“The government has stated it wants to save 1,000 cultural venues in England and I know that residents and visitors to Eastbourne will want the Bandstand at the top of that list.”

Within the overall funding scheme, £230 million is earmarked for preserving heritage buildings.   A bid is now being planned with the involvement of the newly formed Seafront Executive Board, which includes seafront stakeholders from the business sector and the local community.

Councillor Williams added:

“The Bandstand is the centrepiece of our beautiful seafront.

“We will fast track an application for this funding, making sure the government understands the strength of local support to preserve this hugely important and historic venue.”