THERE’S a new plea to fix Girvan’s Bandstand which has been neglected and vandalised.

The issue was discussed at a Girvan Town Team meeting and it hoped money obtained from the Big Lottery Fund will be able to help fix it. Nine years ago grand plans for the bandstand were unveiled showing a new look.

Architects Lawrence McPherson Associates were going to allow the original Victorian ironwork to remain visible.

The multi-purpose community facility was estimated to cost £300,000 after it was left for years in a state of disrepair with graffiti on the outside walls, rotten floors and roof.

But there still does not appear to have been any progress made and the 19th century building, which sits on Duncan Street, still needs repair.

Roddy McDonald, town team coordinator, has been working with the Big Lottery Scheme organisers to secure funding for various projects in the town.

The bandstand could be one of the next big projects but it is not yet clear how much money could be allocated towards it.

Roddy said: “This is a cracking project and with the right research, we can bring it back to life. I don’t think we will have a lot of money from the Big Lottery Fund.”

But the Town Team will still apply for funding in the hope they can secure some more money.

There are a number of programmes available for the Town Team to apply for including the Awards for All Scotland.

It focuses on organisations who have not received a grant from the programme in the last three years and gives them a chance to apply for a grant of between £500 and £10,000 for projects that aim to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need.

Roddy previously said: “We are discussing the finishing touches to the project. We will engage with the Big Lottery Fund and try and obtain further funding of £2000.

“I am in discussions with them and they are being really helpful. We are told about the diminishing budget for many buildings.

“We can’t improve without money and my job is to see how we can do that. Additional money will go towards the arts culture.

“If we had a community kitchen we could use it events. That is also something we need funding for.”

The Town Team are hopeful that additional money awarded to them from Big Lottery can help with their arts culture including the redevelopment of the bandstand.

In the summer months the Town House could be used as a resting point.