CONCERTS in the Park will be back for the summer – but this time it will be held in Dewsbury.

Last year, Kirklees Council held two free public concerts at Greenhead Park.

But this year, they have had to rethink the location because the park is off limits due to renovation work.

The Proms In The Park and Party In The Park concerts will take place on August 22 and 23 in Crow Nest Park at Dewsbury.

The acts have not yet been confirmed but, like last year, there will be a chart band on the Sunday night.

However, instead of the usual classic Prom-style event on the Saturday night, the council is planning to bring the hits of the West End musicals to Kirklees.

Discussions are underway with a touring company of West End stars.

More details about performers on both nights are set to be released in June.

Clr Christine Stanfield, Kirklees Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Concerts in the Park were hugely popular last year and we are really pleased to be bringing them back again.

“With Greenhead Park closed, this has presented a perfect opportunity to take the concerts over to Crow Nest Park this summer.

“Hosting events in our major parks makes for a great festival atmosphere and encourages people to make a real day out of it.”

Last year’s concerts proved a huge hit with 15,000 people attending over the weekend and June.

The classical night featured Huddersfield Choral Society and the Orchestra of Opera North, while the second night included performances from pop punk band Elliot Minor, Irish act The Script and headliners Guillemots.

The move of the concerts to Dewsbury will doubtless disappoint many Huddersfield people.

But Clr Stanfield said people from other areas of Kirklees had to travel to last year’s events in town and that transport would be available to make the journey simple.

This could include a free shuttle bus from Dewsbury train station to the park.

She said: “Thousands of people travelled from other towns and villages to attend last year’s concert weekend and we’ll be making sure that it’s as easy as possible for people to do the same this year.”

In total, last year’s concerts cost £150,000 – working out at 88p per council tax payer.

A survey conducted last September by Kirklees Council showed that, of those who went to either the classical or pop concerts, 98% said they were value for money.