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.
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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."
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