THE prestigious Kirklees Music School has found a new home.
But young musicians aiming to prolong the area's fine musical heritage face a long trek out of the town centre to its new base at Salendine Nook High School.
And music school officials are continuing their search for a new permanent base, having lost their headquarters in New Street, Huddersfield.
"We realise travel will be difficult for many people, but everyone has worked extremely hard to make sure the transition to Salendine Nook goes well. We are extremely grateful to the school for offering us use of its premises," said Thom Meredith, the music school's acting principal.
"We will use Salendine Nook as a base for at least 12 months, but ideally we're still looking for other premises," he added.
The school needed new premises when the lease on the former Co-op buildings in New Street ran out in June.
The new owners, the Heaven and Hell nightclub chain, did not want to extend the lease because of its own expansion plans within the building.
The music school, which has 4,500 pupils, thought it had found a suitable new building in Old Leeds Road, Huddersfield, in December last year.
It sought and gained planning permission from Kirklees Council to convert the building as a new base.
But its plans for that site were scuppered this year when supermarket giant Tesco was said to be in talks with Kirklees about plans to build a replacement store on the site of the Huddersfield Sports Centre on Southgate.
Part of the site included the building on Old Leeds Road the music school wanted.
Since July, the music school's administration offices have been based in Beast Market opposite Johnny's nightclub.
Parents have been told by letter of the move to Salendine Nook.
But some are unhappy that more Kirklees cash has not been made available to the music school.
Mr Nigel Collins, of Deighton, said some students would now have to travel for almost an hour to attend a 45-minute lesson, which would not finish until 8.30pm.
"It is a clear indication of the council's priorities, when millions of pounds can be found to rescue commercial operations but nothing is done to support young musical talent," he added.
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