A brass band’s bid to bring a Dreghorn hall back into community use was approved today.

Irvine and Dreghorn Brass Band’s application for a community asset transfer of The Dunlop Memorial Hall was given the greenlight today at cabinet (Tuesday, November 26).

As well as a large, sound-proofed room for the brass band, members also plan a recording studio, a small concert venue for the community, individual tuition rooms, a music library, with office/social space and meeting facilities.

The band are set to receive the hall, named after Dreghorn-raised pneumatic tyre inventor John Boyd Dunlop, at a cut price deal of £4,000,- a tenth of its current market value of £40,000, which meeting papers state will enable greater links to be forged with the community, Dreghorn Primary School and Greenwood Academy.

In the report to Cabinet interim Executive Director of Communities Audrey Sutton said: “Irvine and Dreghorn Brass Band has received an enthusiastic welcome from the Dreghorn Community Association and the North Ayrshire Council Music Service.

“Members of local groups including the Brownies/Guides, Dreghorn Baptist Church and Irvine Camera Club welcomed the proposal to bring back the asset into community use and the opportunities for young people to play in the band.”

Cabinet Member Alex Gallagher said: “It seems like a good idea.”