Put pianos in railway stations council urged

Jeanette Sunderland has urged Bradford Council to install pianos in bus and train stations

A Bradford councillor has said pianos should be installed in bus and train stations to increase access to music.

Jeanette Sunderland said the move would allow more people to enjoy musical instruments that might be beyond their income.

She referred to the popularity of Channel Four's The Piano, where members of the public impressed judges by playing a piano in a busy railway station.

Ms Sunderland plans to raise the issue at a Bradford Council meeting on Tuesday.

The first series of the Claudia Winkleman-fronted TV show was filmed at Leeds Station, with the most recent series taking place in Liverpool Lime Street Station.

During each series, viewers heard the often-inspiring stories behind the performers.

The last series was won by Brad Kellaher – a Liverpool teenager who grew up in foster care.

In her question at full council, Ms Sunderland will call for better access to musical instruments for Bradford’s children in care and suggest pianos are installed in bus and train stations.

Brad Kellaher, who grew up in care, went on to win The Piano

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said she would also urge the council to ensure children in care would not see themselves as just a number.

"The recent final of Channel Four’s The Piano was won by a young pianist from Liverpool called Brad who was brought up in care," the councillor said.

"As he sat to play his own composition that was to win him performance of the night, he said he wanted to show people ‘what a number can do’.

"Can the portfolio holder and leader assure elected members that not one child in the care of this authority would ever think that they were a number, that every child in care has access to a musical instrument and that in the train and bus stations, and other public spaces, pianos are placed so people can perform for the enjoyment of others?"

The meeting will be held in City Hall at 16:00 BST on Tuesday.

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