A BANDSTAND is set to be relocated from Burnley town centre to become the focal point of a Padiham park.

It is set to disappear from its long-standing position near McDonald’s in part of a £3 million regeneration of parts of the the town centre, jointly funded by Burnley and Lancashire county councils.

However, the Friends of Memorial Park and Padiham Town Council put together a successful £30,000 bid to move the bandstand to the park.

The project will see the bandstand dismantled in the autumn and held in secure storage over the winter with installation taking place in the “natural arena” of the “dais” area Memorial Park in spring 2017.

Bob Clark, a Padiham town councillor, said they, along with the Friends of Memorial Park and various Burnley Council departments, had worked together for the “common goal” of finding a new home for the bandstand.

He said: “This is a very exciting development for Padiham and will be a focal point of the park.

“I’m old enough to remember the old bandstand in the park in the 1950s and hundreds would gather to hear Burnley Alliance Silver Band and other music.

“It’s been missed since it burned down in the 1960s so this was too good a chance not to take up.

“The hopes are it won’t just be brass bands playing but all kinds of music and performing arts.

“Events are held there now but having a covered stage will mean a much greater variety and year-round performances.”

The first stage of the refurbishment work in part of Burnley town centre has been completed at the bottom of Manchester Road. It involved laying new paving and installing new benches, cycle racks and large flower tubs, as well as reinstating disabled parking bays.

Similar work is nearing completion in The Mall and preparation work is under way in St James Street and Curzon Street.

The regeneration scheme aims to make the pedestrianised area of St James Street, between Hammerton Street and Hall Street, more attractive for shoppersand provide a better shopping experience.

The work will include new paving, new street furniture such as benches, decorative lighting and a revised “town square” area for community events.