Lib Dems slam Bandstand Blinds

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th Jul 2006

Liberal Democrat Leader David Tutt has said that the blinds which have recently been erected around the Bandstand "must go" and has committed a future Liberal Democrat controlled Council to "tearing them down". Cllr Tutt accused local Tories of being "killjoys" for allowing this to take place.

As he explained "Eastbourne has a tradition going back decades that charges those who wish to watch a whole performance and for this they get the privilege of a seat, enhanced acoustics and some weather cover. Whilst allowing those walking past to stand and enjoy a few minutes of the show before continuing their stroll along the promenade. I think it was petty for the Council to have even considered putting up such barriers around the Bandstand, let alone actually doing so".

Lib Dem Parliamentary challenger, Stephen Lloyd, agreed, saying, "I don't know how much the Council spent erecting the blinds but they are an absolute eye-sore, detract from the character of the seafront and represent a classic example of short-term thinking from the Tory administration. I'd have thought it's obvious that potential customers for the Bandstand come from curious passers-by. Now all they will see is an eight-foot tarpaulin barrier. A daft decision and the sooner the Council recognises their mistake the better."