A BID to create a £300,000 community centre for Wantage has taken a major step forward.

Council bosses have given Wantage Silver Band a ‘peppercorn’ rent for land at Tugwell Field, meaning it only has to raise the cash for the building.

The band, which has more than 160 members, has been raising money for several years and has collected more than £150,000.

The group wants to build a practice centre, which will also be available to community groups and organisations.

It has practiced in temporary sites since both its headquarters at Newbury St CofE School, and then Garston Lane Primary School, were demolished.

Bandmaster Eileen Sykes said: “We have been homeless for about 10 years now.

“We have several big bands and we have to pay to hire halls for all the practices and transport all the instruments. So life is quite hard at the moment.

“We look forward to having a permanent home for the band, and providing a useful facility for the community.”

She said now it had secured the land it could start looking for grants and loans. It is hoped work will start next spring.

Richard Gibson, executive member for economic development at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This is a huge step forward for Wantage Silver Band and the culmination of many months of hard work to achieve legal and planning agreements.

“Wantage is now much closer to seeing this vital community facility become a reality.”

In 2008 the band was granted planning permission for the new building which will provide practice and storage facilities, as well as changing facilities for local football club, the Wantage Concords, who will play their home games on the Tugwell Field pitch.

The band’s practice sessions are currently split between Grove CofE School, East and West Challow Village Halls, Charlton Centre and Childrey Methodist Church.

The field is on the eastern edge of Wantage, by the A417, near the Lord Nelson pub.