Bandstand's delayed return a 'blood-boiling farce'

Delays to the repair and return of a park's Grade II listed Victorian bandstand are likely to continue for at least another year, leading a local campaigner to dub the ongoing saga "self-inflicted neglect".

The structure in Roker Park, Sunderland, had been fenced off since 2021 before being dismantled last year and taken to a workshop for renovation work.

Having originally been set for a return this spring, the reopening was then put back to an unspecified date this summer, but councillor Andrew Ramsay has now said it will be next summer at the earliest.

Resident and campaigner David Laws said the missing bandstand makes his "blood boil" and described the continuing delays as "farcical".

He said: "Our heritage has been thrown away. It's self-inflicted neglect.

"I've been given too many promises since 2020."

Asked how he feels seeing the spot where the renovated bandstand should be, he said: "I try to avoid it just as it makes my blood boil."

Ramsay, a member of the Reform UK group that took control of Sunderland City Council in May, said a subcontractor involved in the repairs had fallen into financial difficulty and the authority was figuring out its next steps.

He said: "It's a little bit outside of our control but I'm aware that officers have had some conversations so they're fairly confident that summer next year is a good strong date.

"We're hoping for summer 2027."

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