Black Dyke Band's dream of creating a centre of musical excellence in Queensbury has been given the go-ahead by Bradford Council.

Planning permission has been approved for the project which will extend the cramped band room into a training academy.

Band leaders felt something needed to be done to ensure the North of England has top-quality brass musicians in the future as most of its players originate from across the British Isles, including three from Wales.

So they got to work with architects to draw up a plan which includes individual and group practice rooms, a music library, CD store and archives.

Band administrator Geoff Whiteley said everyone was delighted with the Council's decision.

It will bring the practice facilities up-to-date with the highly- commercialised band which has played with big names like Elton John and which is officially band in residence at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

"It is the first step - without that we couldn't start." he said.

"It is the intention of the band to work closely with the education departments. Preliminary meetings have already taken place and everyone involved at Bradford Council has been most helpful."

The centre also aims to be the first of its type in the area to cater for tourists wanting to see the band's collection of memorabilia.

"Already this year we have had people from New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark and Northern Ireland who have called in at the band room on the off chance when I have been in," said Mr Whiteley.

"The centre will also have a range of recordings on sale which you can't really buy in most shops."

The whole project will require hundreds of thousands of pounds and an appeal will be launched in due course entitled Building For The Future.

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