CAMPAIGNERS for a Winchester arts centre have accused civic chiefs of watering down promises over its funding.

The Tower Arts Centre was transferred by the county council to Kings' School in April.

But the county and city council pledged £50,000 for three years to help it through the transition.

Winchester city councillors yesterday (Wednesday) agreed to give £25,000.

The money was agreed as a result of a strong public campaign against the transfer revealed by the Chronicle in mid-2007.

Martin Tod, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate forWinchester, and opponent of the transfer, said the understanding had been the £50,000 would be primarily for the Tower.

But it transpires that the cash will only partially go to the Tower, with around half going for events at the Discovery Centre and other venues.

The city council cabinet was told by its chief executive Simon Eden that the focus should not be on buildings: "The money is about the delivery of events and (arts) programmes, it is not about the subsidy of venues," he said.

But Mr Tod said: "It's not good that the Conservative-run city and county councils are breaking the promises they made back in December.

"The Conservatives repeatedly promised a mixed evening programme focused initially on the Tower'.

"Most of the funding that was going to be focused' initially on the Tower will not be spent at the Tower at all."

He told cabinet that, in effect, the county council was withdrawing its funding from the Tower.

A county council report in December 2007 said the £25,000 annual grant would be to develop "cultural provision and programming at the Tower and other venues in Winchester".

However, city council leader Cllr George Beckett said the grant was "a good news story".

He added: "We are funding a series of events that were at risk of being lost in the changeover at the Tower."