BATTLING town councillors have given a boost to plans for a new £500,000 arts centre on the Waterside.

Pressure from two Totton members led New Forest District Council to move the scheme up its list of priorities.

Di Brooks and John Dawson called for an all-out effort to make sure the project went ahead.

As a result, a bid for £170,000 of funding was promoted to number two from number six in the list of nine schemes recommended for cash backing.

The centre, which was given outline planning permission this week, is to be created by a major conversion of an old barn at Hanger Farm.

It will involve a joint effort between Totton College, Totton and Eling Town Council, New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council.

Support is also being sought from numerous other sources, including the National Lottery.

Mr Dawson warned: "If Totton Arts doesn't get carried on, it could endanger the scheme."

With money paid by developers who have built new houses in Totton also going to the scheme, Mrs Brooks was quick to point out that Totton deserved improved facilities.

She said: "People in the town think we've taken the vast majority of building that is going on and we should reap some benefit."

It was agreed that Totton's £170,000 allocation, spread over three years, should go to second in the priority list.

The site will be managed by Totton College, whose principal Mark Bramwell welcomed the support from councillors and said that discussions on the partnership agreements were progressing amicably.

He said: "We know there is funding there to progress the scheme. Getting the building up to scratch, laying the car park and putting in the link road will be the first stages.

"Then we want to develop it into a state-of-the-art facility which will be a credit to the area.

"The college will manage it and there will be three main users - the college, all local community groups and visiting professional groups. My colleagues are looking forward to it with enormous enthusiasm and it is something that is much needed."

Totton College has already been involved in the joint use of facilities with New Forest District Council, both in opening some of its premises to community use and in having access for its students to the council-run Totton Recreation Centre.

Top of the district's priority list is £35,000 for Waterside Heritage Centre, on the site of the old Hythe railway station, which is now owned by the district council.