AMBITIOUS plans to turn part of a massive Bradford mill into a heritage centre will begin in earnest later this month when it hosts the first of a monthly series of concerts.

Queensbury Community Heritage and Action Partnership has been hard at work on creating a Heritage Venue in Black Dyke Mills for more than a year.

It has now got to the stage where the Black Dyke Mills Heritage Venue is ready to welcome visitors and on Saturday, January 31, the expansive second floor room of the former textile mill will host the first of its Secret Song Project concerts.

The venue has already hosted one event, a Santa's grotto in November, and QCHAP now hopes 2015 will see the centre thrive.

As well as the stage area, there is also a cafe area and space for a market and plenty of other space for arts exhibitions and performances.

Norah McWilliam said the building's owner Paul Clark had offered the group the space, formally a spinning hall, on "very favourable terms," and now it was up to its members to prove they could make it a success.

Within a month of getting the keys, the group, comprised of volunteers, had turned it from a long derelict, empty area to a quirky community space.

Helga Broadbent said: "When there was the Santa's grotto the place was buzzing with life. I think music events will really work in this space. It is great to have something like this in the area."

Beryl Robinson said: "It would be great to get places like Bradford College to hold fashion shows here. We have got so many ideas for what this space can be used for."

The mill dates back to the mid 1800s, and although it is still home to many small businesses, huge swathes of the vast mill remain empty.

Once they obtained the space, QCHAP furnished it with items from a charity shop also based at the mill, adding to the feel of a space that has been brought back to use from dereliction.

The first concert will feature performances by the Play for Ale Band and Secret Songs, both local bands. Money for the sound equipment has been provided from the ward budget of Queensbury Councillors Paul and Lynda Cromie.

Mrs McWilliam said: "I think this will work for lots of types of music. The idea is we want to promote the music heritage of Queensbury, so we are particularly interested in people who are performing their own music, ideally from the local area.

"We are very short of funds, so we hope that the events we've planned will help bring in more money to the centre."

Tickets cost £5 and include hot soup and muffin supper. The event starts at 7.15pm. To buy tickets call 07872052773.

Anyone wanting to volunteer at the centre can call 07882 657072.

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