Editor's Comment (From Andover Advertiser)

Editor's Comment

3:33pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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The decision to remove an Andover landmark has not gone down well in the town.

The bandstand was gifted to the people of Andover in 1930 and although there probably aren’t too many people who remember it being used as a bandstand it seems a real shame to dismiss it as a useless structure.

Having been converted for use as an aviary for many years, a role that ceased about three years ago due to vandalism, there’s no reason why it could not be given a new lease of life for its original purpose.

Anyone who has meandered through the gardens at Bournemouth on a sunny afternoon and stopped to listen to the band will know that it’s a real joy to be entertained in this traditional way.

And while their bandstand may be a larger, grander affair than ours we could still be treated to a variety of music in Vigo Park.

We have some superb musicians of all ages in and around this town and a central, outdoor but covered little venue such as this could become a magnet on fine days.

The park itself has been given a new lease of life over the past few years as the venue for the Andover Live events which have included the Summer Sounds music festival as well as the Sports Fair.

Andover has some lovely green spaces, especially around the Town Mills area, but our parks can be used to even better effect.

They are there to provide recreational space for people to relax in and music is one of the best ways of adding to almost any recreational activity, especially if that involves sitting down with an ice cream and letting some local talent transport us to a place far removed from our everyday toils and troubles.

Let’s think this through very carefully before another little bit of old Andover disappears.

Joe Scicluna, Editor.

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