A CONSULTANT has reported that the Tower Arts Centre in Winchester should either close or be transferred to a local school.

Caroline Felton was asked by Hampshire County Council to look into the future of the centre whose future is uncertain.

A strong public campaign is battling the proposals to hand the centre over to Kings' School. The final decision is due to be taken by county council leader Ken Thornber in December.

A public meeting tomorrow night (November 1) will be held in the Guildhall when the public can give their views to council bosses.

The Felton report admitted the Tower has a loyal following, has a strong personality and is efficiently-run.

But the report said the county council's need to make savings in its arts budget made the £100,000 subsidy unsustainable.

The best option was the transfer to Kings' School. "It would retain some key elements of the current programme, and keep the door open for some live music provision," said Ms Felton.

Campaigners argue that none of the council's three other centres, in New Milton, Aldershot or Fareham are under such a threat.

Leading campaigner Alistair Marsden said Ms Felton's conclusion was inevitable because her terms of reference were too narrow.

He said the wider issue was that Winchester was relatively poorly-off for arts provision. In the Location, Location Location poll Winchester was ranked second as the most desirable place to live.

But for lifestyle, which includes culture and leisure, the city dropped to 95th out of the 434 local authorities.

Mr Marsden is due to present a petition to a full meeting of Winchester City Council tonight with around 800 signatures.

Meanwhile an online petition has attracted 1,170 names.

Sue Oldfield, a former tutor at the Tower, said: "Inevitably when run by a school, adult education classes lose their adult focus, and gradually become increasingly dedicated to children's activities, diminishing the capacity to be an adult environment & a designated, creative space."