COUNTY chiefs and backbench councillors are on a "collision course" over the possible closure of three Hampshire arts centres, including The Tower in Winchester.

The arts review panel refused to back the controversial cost-cutting scheme proposed by Yinnon Ezra, director of recreation and heritage, and the ruling Conservative group.

Instead, the all-party committee, which met behind closed doors on Tuesday, voted by a majority of three to one to save the threatened venues.

Cllr Peter Chegwyn, Lib Dem opposition spokesman for the arts, said: "Unfortunately for the Conservatives, two out of three of their members did not turn up, which means the opposition had the majority "We want to keep the arts centres, which are too valuable to lose. That is the official view of the arts review panel."

He said this put the panel on "collision course" with Cllr Margaret Snaith, executive member for recreation and heritage, who is expected to approve the plans for the Tower Arts Centre next Thursday.

The council is proposing to hand the Tower Arts Centre in Romsey Road to Kings School to run and stop all funding within two years, saving about £94,000 a year.

The new Winchester Discovery Centre library, which includes space for performances, could host events in future, though it is not known if any have been planned for 2008.

The council is also considering closing West End Arts Centre in Aldershot, and ending the professional programme of music at the recently-refurbished Ashcroft Art Centre in Fareham.

The Lib Dems claim the Forest Arts Centre near Lymington may be the only council-owned arts centre left after the cuts, aimed at saving about £500,000.

Cllr Chegwyn said: "This will decimate the arts in Hampshire.

"The four arts centres are not only used by tens of thousands of residents every year, but they are part of the touring circuit of theatre, drama and music groups.

"There are simply no other similar venues which they can perform in, so Hampshire as a whole will lose out."

He accused the council of "engineering the financial crisis" by freezing funding to the arts centres for several years before cutting their grants in 2007/8.

Cllr Snaith said one of the aims of the shake-up of the arts centres was to ensure council taxpayers' money was well spent.

She said: "Hampshire County Council provides funding, direct and indirect through grants, to arts across the county and in fact is one of the main arts promoters in Hampshire.

"The fact that we do not have a statutory responsibility to promote arts and yet chose to do so on such a wide scale, I believe, shows our commitment to the arts in Hampshire."