BARKING S bandstand will be destroyed instead of taking pride of place in St Chad s Park in order to save money. The cash strapped council has decided they simply cannot afford to fulfil their promises and so they are having the landmark scrapped. Situate

BARKING'S bandstand will be destroyed instead of taking pride of place in St Chad's Park in order to save money.

The cash strapped council has decided they simply cannot afford to fulfil their promises and so they are having the landmark scrapped.

Situated in the heart of Barking town the bandstand was often used during celebrations, such as the Molten and Witten festivals.

Live music could be heard by shoppers as they mingled in Barking Market in East Street.

But the bandstand has now fallen silent as the last bricks were cleared away from its foundations on Wednesday January 21.

Friends of St Chad's Park Chairman, Maire Justice, said: "Once again, it seems that Chadwell Heath is low on the list of the council's priorities even though our members are enthusiastically working to attain the Green Pennant award that is being sought by the council.

"The acquisition of the band-stand was central to our plans and the community was looking forward to its arrival."

The bandstand has been in Barking since 1998, it was built after the buses were redirected from East Street down North Street.

It was announced in October that despite the East London Transit moving the bandstand that it would be preserved.

A council spokesman told the POST that the structure would be dismantled and rebuilt in St Chad's Park, Japan Road, Chadwell Heath.

However the council has backtracked and a spokeswoman said last week: "The bandstand needed to be removed to enable the East London Transit to operate in Barking Town Centre.

"Having assessed the nature of the building, the potential cost and locality implications it was considered inappropriate to attempt to take apart the structure and try to re-build it.