I AM a big fan of the arts, music and comedy. The only real venue that covers all of these things, and much more is the Tower Arts Centre in Winchester. This venue has been open for 38 years, and has always been very successful. It showcases new talent along with old favourites as well as doing a great job for the community in terms of children's workshops, exhibition space and giving local bands a stage on which to perform.

I was horrified to hear of the proposal to change the structure of the arts centre and hand over its management to Kings School. This is mostly due to the imminent opening of the new library in the centre of Winchester, which apparently will have its own performance space.

My relationship with the Tower goes back to 1979, when as a student at Montgomery School, we were allowed to visit at lunch times. After leaving school I worked there for a year, this led directly into getting into drama school and eventually studying at the Royal Welsh College for three years. I am now a TV producer. Without John Tellett, its director and the Tower, this would not have been possible.

My family and I moved back to Winchester in 1997, and we now live next door to the Tower. My wife has taught music to pre-school children there, my children attend a Saturday drama club at the Tower and we have enjoyed many kinds of different shows there.

To hand the running of the Tower to Kings School is in effect sanctioning its slow demise. Kings School is an excellent educational establishment; my eldest child is a student there. However it is a school, and couldn't be expected to run the Tower to the same degree of artistic and eclectic excellence as its present management.

I urge you to help overturn this ridiculous and damaging decision. A final decision is being made on September 13, so time is running out.

There is a government petition that already has over 900 signatures: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveTowerArts and a Myspace site: www.myspace.com/savethetower.

JOHN GOLLEY, Winchester.