Southfields Park bandstand to be replaced with multi-use canopy

Published: Mon 9th September, 2024

The bandstand in a popular Loughborough park is set to be replaced with a new multi-use canopy.

The new structure in Southfields Park will be used to hold events at the open space and offer shelter and seating for visitors.

Work is due to start to replace the bandstand in Southfields Park later this month.

The new canopy is one element of the wider Living Loughborough project which is benefitting from Loughborough Town Deal funding worth £2.87 million.

Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, the Council’s lead member for economic development, regeneration and town centres, said: “It’s great to hear that work is due to begin at Southfields Park to replace the bandstand with a new canopy.

“It is essential that we continue to invest in areas of Loughborough to make them enjoyable and accessible for visitors and residents to come to. This will be a huge improvement to Southfields Park and the surrounding area.”

Cllr Anne Gray, the Council’s lead member for open spaces, said: “We are so proud of our open spaces in Charnwood so it is fantastic to see this Town Deal project investing in Southfields Park to improve it for visitors.”

Martin Traynor OBE, Chair of Loughborough Town Deal, said: “I’m really pleased with the progress that the Town Deal-backed Living Loughborough project is making and the work beginning at Southfields Park is just another element of that.

“This project along with all of the Town Deal projects are making huge improvements to the town which is positive for residents and helps bring more footfall to the town.”

The new canopy will see a central structure along with further covered canopies surrounding its perimeter.

Work is set to take around 8 weeks and Southfields Park will remain open during this time.

The Living Loughborough project supported by the Town Deal includes:

• the introduction of new interactive digital trails to encourage people to explore the town centre and its heritage. The trails feature augmented reality which means they will be able to ‘see into the past’ using a mobile phone app.
• holding more events
• digital signage to showcase local events and information.
• investment in Loughborough Markets including:
• flexibility to create areas to hold different types of events.
• addition of a covered area in Southfields Park to hold events.
• the expansion of CCTV cameras in four locations to improve public safety.
• the creation of a new post with Love Loughborough to support crime reduction in the town centre including the purchase of 100 new radios for traders as part of the retail radio scheme.
• more 1-2-1 support for businesses on topics including using digital technology and marketing.
• improvements to Queen’s Park including to the entrances from Granby Street and Granby Street car park, the addition of new information points, new lighting to the bandstand and improved lighting of the Carillon Tower.
• the expansion of free public wi-fi in the town centre to include Ward’s End, Devonshire Square, Bedford Square and Queen’s Park

To find out more about the Loughborough Town Deal projects, visit the Town Deal website.