Music service at risk of Denbighshire council cuts

Parents are fighting to keep a music education service for children in Denbighshire as the county council looks to make budget cuts.

The authority could withdraw the £103,000 it spends with the William Mathias Music Service to run its music service and ensembles for 190 children.

Parents have presented the council with a petition of nearly 4,000 names.

The council said the services are in addition to school music lessons, which all children will continue to receive.

Councillors are due to vote on changes in December and some parents fear it could lead to the loss of all music ensembles, including the award-winning Denbighshire County Brass Band.

'Opportunity for children'

The service also manages and administers the county's peripatetic music service and instruments.

Parent Tom Barham, whose son plays in the band, said: "This type of service is really, really important and it makes such a difference to the lives of the kids in Denbighshire."

A council spokesperson said although the authority is considering cutting funding, it "would potentially consider alternative ways of providing this type of opportunity for children and young people".

She said the authority was hoping to discuss the issue with the music service.

"We think there could be new ways we can work that will improve accessibility for children across the board," she said.

The proposals follow similar action in other council areas such as Rhondda Cynon Taf in a move which has been criticised by Stereophonics' frontman Kelly Jones.