A former infants school could soon be transformed into a state-of-the-art music centre with a recording studio.

Plans are in the pipeline for the former Park South Infants School in Priory Road to be turned into a Centre of Excellence for Swindon Music.

The transformation would see the site, now known as the Parks Centre, being used for different music groups from across Swindon, music tuition, cultural exchange programmes, a music library, an examination centre, and for holiday courses.

A stage will also be built, so that the centre could become a concert venue.

Music company Roland has already agreed to sponsor the development of a recording studio in the centre and will provide top of the range equipment.

Swindon Music Co-operative, which is spearheading the scheme, is in negotiations with the council to take over the majority of the site by September 2001.

Mike Lusty, the council director of education, said: "The proposed development of the Parks Centre as both a training facility and a centre of excellence for Swindon music has positive implications for both the local and wider community.

"A programme of community activities will be developed by Swindon Music which will focus in the first instance on initiatives aimed at the local community."

The co-operative used to be based at Churchfields Upper School, but it feels it will have more space by taking over a building of its own.

If it moves into the Parks Centre, there will be substantial refurbishment costs involved which could be paid for by a lottery bid, or private and council funding.

The centre will be able to offer pre-school events for children aged between one and four, free concerts, an after-school music club, workshops, adult classes, and curriculum links with the local Oaktree School.

One wing of the site is already the home of the People's Centre Project, which is run by Swindon College and deals with computer and employment training focussing on the local Parks community.

Park South Infants School closed when it amalgamated with Oaktree School two years ago. Leading councillors will be discussing the plan at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday night.