Calls to delay arts centre hand over

7:11am Thursday 15th November 2007

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HAMPSHIRE civic chiefs are coming under pressure over controversial plans for a Winchester arts centre.

The county council is proposing to hand the Tower Arts Centre to Kings' School, ending its highly regarded evening programme and threatening community events.

Yesterday Winchester city councillors called on the county to delay its disposal of the centre. It was also revealed that Kings is threatening to withdraw its offer if no decision is made on December 7.

At a meeting of the city council Cabinet, Councillor Fred Allgood said he had met the head of Kings.

"It was made absolutely clear that if a decision was not made on December 7, they would walk away from the offer," he said. "They feel they have taken a tremendous amount of flak from the public."

Sue Lawrence, head teacher at Kings, said: "I don't want the school to be caught in a continued political crossfire. I have to protect the school, the pupils and staff."

In a report to the city Cabinet, corporate director Steve Tilbury recommended that a substantial delay should be sought.

Mr Tilbury highlighted the fact that Kings had not produced a business plan showing how it would use the building.