A POETRY group has slammed The Arc for going against its own mission statement by imposing unaffordable prices.

Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) is significantly increasing its tariffs for people hiring rooms at The Arc due to energy and staff costs and to make the price of different rooms relative to their size.

Poetry group Winchester Muse has been using the venue on a monthly basis since 2015 but will no longer be able to afford it. In a letter to chief executive Paul Sapwell, the group said: “We are now forced to conclude that HCT’s own mission statement to provide a venue for local community groups – and its website tagline (a place for arts, reading and community, all under one roof) – is nothing more than semantics.

“Make no mistake: driving Winchester Muse away from The Arc will profoundly affect many local people. Some will continue to access our group online and a few others may look further afield to Southampton or London. However, a significant minority, whether due to physical or learning disabilities, lack of access to the right home technology, or their own discomfort with virtual meetings, will lose out altogether.”

READ MORE: Rising energy costs for the Hampshire Cultural Trust make hire rates unaffordable for community groups at The Arc

Taking into account a 50 per cent discount for community hires and a further 10 per cent discount for regular users, Winchester Muse would see their current fee of £60 a night for three hours in the Children’s Library grow to more than £100. The poetry group is currently looking for a new home to move into in the new year.

Although the new rate form, sent at the beginning of September, says “effective from October 1”, HCT has agreed to continue the club’s current rate until January.

Committee member Louise Taylor, a former barrister from Owslebury, said: “From a legal point I was absolutely gobsmacked when they emailed to tell us that our prices were going up in the middle of our contract. 

“They are aligning themselves with commercial enterprises in Winchester which puts them beyond the financial reach of the majority of community groups.”

SEE ALSO: Winchester Café Sci finds new home following significant tariff increases imposed by the Hampshire Cultural Trust at The Arc

Hampshire Cultural Trust’s chief executive Paul Sapwell said: “I appreciate the disappointment of Winchester Muse, however, it is important to reiterate the driving factors behind the charges for room hire at The Arc: staffing costs and energy bills. These increases apply to hire outside our normal, daily opening hours - when we open the building, providing staff and utilities so that a group can use it. Hampshire Cultural Trust is a charity and we simply cannot open The Arc out of hours and run it at a loss.

“We completely value our hirers at The Arc and they are just one part of our whole community here. The Arc is a warm space for those facing hardship with their energy bills this winter. We have free Wifi available, as well as all the facilities that Winchester Library has to offer. In addition to our ticketed programme of events, we offer activities, exhibitions and workshops which are open to all and free for all to attend. We are a place where those who feel isolated can come to and feel safe. These, and the art and cultural activities that happen here, are what makes The Arc such a special and unique place.”

READ ALSO: Hampshire County Council urges people to visit their local library for a free, warm and welcoming space through the winter

The main concern for Winchester Muse is finding a venue that can deliver the Wi-Fi, screen and facilities they need to run its hybrid sessions with as many as 40 people attending over Zoom and many attending in person. Some members with disabilities also require a ground floor space or a lift.

Louise added: “We’re an arts group and this is a library. There seems to be no recognition of what the library is actually for, which is surely allowing access to the arts.

“We welcome anybody no matter what their abilities, whether we can understand them when they speak, how well they can write, how confident they are. Our members with learning difficulties and the lady with down syndrome, I just can’t see that there is a comparable group anywhere else that would welcome them.”