A CITY park could have a permanent bandstand or stage as a councillor hopes to see more live music on the site. 

Councillor Richard Udall, the city and county councillor for St John's, wants a permanent bandstand or stage in Cripplegate Park to help residents put on more concerts and events.

It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised £5m for Worcester to support new cultural projects for capital spending and Cllr Udall has bid early for a slice of the money to benefit St John's.

Cllr Udall said the park already attracts people from across Worcester and hopes the improvements would bring more to the area.

He said: "We have proposals for a bandstand or stage to be erected in Cripplegate Park to allow us to have more concerts and events in the park.

"During the summer, the Friends of Cripplegate organise concerts on alternate Sundays.  

"They are great events.

"People have fun listening to music and having picnics in the park. It brings people together, and they enjoy the artists performing.  

"We really need a stage so we can hold professional events and attract more bands and entertainers. 

"We have the plans and we have a proposal ready to be built - we just need the funds.

"Cripplegate Park is beautiful. It links St John's to the riverside and the city centre.

"We could do so much more in the park, but we need the resources to do it."

Other suggestions for using the money from Cllr Udall would be to provide free tennis at weekends as well as support what he claims are the only bowling green and croquet courts in public parks in Worcestershire.

Cllr Udall added: "If just a fraction of the £5m could be spent on Cripplegate we could do so much more.

"We could bring the fun back and invest in sporting, cultural and leisure facilities, which would not only last for generations but could change the and enrich lives of thousands of local people. 

"As a local councillor, I will lobby very hard for the money to be invested in Cripplegate Park expansion and new for new facilities."