AN old Forest bandstand that saw a steering group form to protect its future almost a year ago has been revamped.

Members of the Scarr Bandstand Restoration Group have completed the first stage of its clean-up programme and this Saturday (October 22), between 11am and 1pm, there will be a litter-pick.

The work at the site in Sling involved a good tidy-up, re-fixing loose stone and pointing repairs by builders Les and Joe Hatton of Ellwood.

Glebe Contractors Landscape Management of Newent cleared the vegetation in the auditorium area and the edges of the paths which approach the bandstand from Sling AFC car park.

The cuttings will be left to decompose during the winter and another cut is planned for late-March 2017.

Restoration group chairman, Cllr Bill Gayler said members are planning to carry out a litter-pick and are appealing for volunteers to help.

Cllr Gayler said: “All the work has been made possible with funding by the Foresters’ Forest Heritage Lottery Fund grant. The bandstand and auditorium is beginning to look much better.

“Keeping the boar out of the area is quite urgent and so funding is to be sought to erect a boar-proof fence with gates all around the auditorium and behind the bandstand; however the next thing to be done is to litter-pick the approaches and auditorium and to remove any small pieces of wood which would interfere with the regular mowing of the area.”

Cllr Gayler hopes that once the work is completed the bandstand will be used once again as a venue for various events including open-air music concerts, drama, fundraising, competitions and performances.

He added: “The group is meeting at Sling Club at 7pm on November 7 to discuss progress and future plans.

“With the modern availability of portable generators, staging, sanitary facilities and so on there seems to be almost no limit to the events that could be staged there.

“Of course, we need to investigate what the cost of all this would be and where the funding will come from. More news on that soon.”

For more information, or to help with the litter-pick, call Bill on 01594 832969 or email [email protected].