Visitors to Victoria Gardens over the weekend will see scaffolding and safety fencing beginning to be erected around the band stand.
This is being done to support the project to refurbish the band stand which has been looking a little tired in recent years.
Erected by W A Baker & Co in 1898, the bandstand sits in the middle of Victoria Gardens which were designed and created to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
During the past few years we have been trying to secure funding to carry out a number of improvements to Victoria Gardens. These include repairing and renovating the band stand and shelter, and improving the top pond. Unfortunately we have not been successful in securing external funding for these works.
Instead we have identified some funding from the Council’s Parks Capital Maintenance budget. As a result work can now begin on this long awaited project.
Constructed from dressed granite, cast iron and wood with an octagonal tented roof, and sitting on a granite plinth, the Grade 11 listed bandstand has iron balustrades with two sun symbols to each side, cast iron columns to each corner, with a spiral twist to dado level and shaped wooden fascia boards.
It is a firm favourite of people visiting the Gardens, hosting regular brass band concerts and other activities during the summer months.
The works will include replacing the roof and guttering, recasting the metal areas, replacing the wood facias and other areas, carrying out extensive sand blasting and repairs to the stonework, and once this has been completed, giving the whole structure a new coat of paint.
After considering a number of options for managing the project, it became clear that commissioning a number of individual specialist contractors to carry out different parts of the project rather than using a single company would give the Council more control over the scheme and keep costs down, providing better value for money, as well as supporting local suppliers.
“It is fantastic that work is finally going to begin on renovating the band stand” said Truro Mayor Councillor Carol Swain. “The band stand is very well used during the summer, hosting Children’s Club activities when the weather is poor as well as the popular brass band concerts. “
“Victoria Gardens is one of the jewels in Truro’s crown and I look forward to seeing the works completed later in the year, and our much loved band stand restored to its original glory”.
Work is also set to begin on the top pond in the Gardens during the next few weeks. Originally planned to take place during the summer, this project was postponed until the Autumn to minimise the impact on wildlife.
