By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:18, Thursday, 25 October 2012

An old Carlisle building which was once a home to scores of musicians has been given a new lease of life – as part of a school.

From left, Olivia Bartnicka, Oliwia Matusiak and Katelyne Harris

The staff and children at Brook Street School are delighted that the former Carlisle Music Centre – which has not been used for the last three years – has become their early years unit.

The government-funded expansion of the school is part of an attempt to meet the rising demand for primary school places in Carlisle.

Headteacher, Jan Ditchburn, said that the unit was great news for pupils.

She said: “The building had lain empty for three years and now we have got it.

“It means we have a fantastic amount of space for the children.”

Though old, the building, which was just across the school playground, has been adapted and modernised to make it ideal for young children, said Jan.

The opening of the early years unit will also allow Brook Street to take more reception age children.

There are currently 27 of them, as well as 38 nursery places.

She added: “We are already proud of the education we can offer our pupils who come from many different social and cultural backgrounds.

This new building will help us enhance what we

provide even further.

“We are grateful for the support of our local community and it is great that Mayor, David Wilson, our local community officer and councillor Abdul Harid, one of our parents, were there to share this important day with us.”

Three years ago, the Carlisle Music Centre, in Howe Street, was thrown into crisis when its closure left the dozens of musicians who regularly used it without anywhere to rehearse.

Cumbria County Council had asked some of them to start paying rent.

The centre had been used for music rehearsals for at least 40 years.

The main users were the Carlisle Youth Concert Band and the Carlisle Junior Youth Concert Band.

Council officials said they needed the rent money to maintain the building.

One leading member of the City of Carlisle Orchestra commented at the time: “There’s a lot of musical history in that building that seems to be about to be snuffed out.”

First published at 12:11, Thursday, 25 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk