THE councillor in charge of leisure, cultural services, and tourism at Redditch Borough Council has urged people and groups in Redditch to join in at a community festival at the town’s bandstand next month.

Speaking after a free family fun event at the bandstand, Cllr Mike Rouse, Redditch Borough Council’s portfolio holder for leisure and tourism said: “Last week’s bandstand event last was brilliant, my five-year-old daughter was especially taken with the hoola hoop display and has since made me go out and buy her some, proving these events really can have a lasting impact.

“I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work on the day.

"We have just one more event to go on Saturday, September 15, the community festival, so let’s end this season on a high.”

The free community festival on September 15 (from noon to 4pm), is set to include all the fun of the fair, music, a samba band, stalls and activities, and a walking procession from the Palace Theatre to the bandstand.

Cllr Rouse is now appealing to groups to get involved in the procession and even consider getting together to discuss ideas for how it could be developed into a community carnival in the future.

He added: “I have been part of conversations on social media about how wonderful it would be to have the Redditch carnival come back; well this is our chance to prove the community can rise to the challenge of a town centre procession.

"We have already started to talk to some groups, but more need to come forward and fast.”