WORK is under way to restore an important part of one of Bristol’s parks to its former glory.

Page Park, in Staple Hill, was given to the public by landowner Alderman Arthur William Page in 1910.

Community group Friends of Page Park have managed to find funding of more than £70,000 to restore its listed bandstand.

The bandstand was originally added to the park in 1927, but over recent years its condition has been rapidly deteriorating.

The group wanted to get work under way so that they can put on a programme of regular concerts for the community next summer.

The original design of the bandstand had wooden windows with small panes of glass, which, with doors, created an enclosed space.

Over the years the bandstand has had many alterations – the windows were removed as the glass was smashed, and the wooden balustrade was replaced with a metal fence.

The Friends of Page Park applied for funding from three Landfill Trusts after having a design commissioned by architects.

They included the Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust, the Cory Improvement Trust and Sita Trust.

Within four months the group had secured the funding needed to begin work on the bandstand.

Scaffolding has now gone up and work has begun on the bandstand, which will have two different levels.

One level will have steps leading up to it and the other will be on the ground level so that it can be accessed by the disabled and elderly.

It will have flower beds surrounding it, that the group hope will include scented roses. In 2009, the group, with the help of South Gloucestershire Council, submitted an application for £65,000 to the heritage lottery fund. They wanted to totally restore the historic green space to its former glory.

This would have included reinstating the park’s iron railings that were taken away during the Second World War, as well as revamping the clock tower and fixing a faulty fountain.

Unfortunately the group failed in its bid but are now resubmitting it next February.

Stephanie Purser, a member of the Friends group, said: “We don’t want to add anything to the park that wasn’t once there.

“We want to restore it to what it was like when it was given to the people.

“We are particularly excited about the bandstand, which will be a great place to hold community events. The work is expected to be completed in October.”

Even though it will not be completed, the bandstand will be part of the Bandstand Marathon, an event celebrating the end of the cultural Olympiad, that is going on all over the country.

It will take place on Sunday, September 9 from 1pm to 5pm.

A special solar-powered family film will then be screened at 7.30pm.

Everyone is welcome.