Ambitious Dane John project means changes to events in 2025

As everybody knows, our ambitious and exciting plans to transform parts of the city centre using £20m of government money are taking shape.

This project is not without its challenges too, of course – the city’s history and wealth of scheduled ancient monuments means life is always unpredictable when you start digging beneath the surface and, quite rightly, we have to take extra care.

One such challenge comes with our plans for the Dane John Gardens, where among many things we are upgrading the lighting and footpaths to make spaces safer.

We are also enhancing planting and flower beds, and installing a power supply to support the ever-popular events in the park, ending the sole reliance on generators.

This work will happen during 2025 and the scale of what we need to do regrettably means the usual events will not be able to take place in the park next year.

Cabinet member responsible for the project, Cllr Charlotte Cornell, said: “This news may disappoint some people, but we have been proactive with event organisers and let them know in plenty of time that they will need to change their plans and consider alternative sites for 2025.

“Our brilliant and highly-experienced events officer Derek will be on hand to work with organisers and provide as much support with this as he can.

“And the really good news is: when we get to 2026, everyone will be able to enjoy events in a hugely improved Dane John!”

Published: 1 October 2024