A TEAM of Hampshire County Councillors are urging the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage, Margaret Snaith, to defer her decision on the future of the Tower Arts Centre, Winchester, for a year.

Cllr Snaith is due to make a decision on the venue's future on Thursday (July 5), because the county council believes it will be made redundant once the Discovery Centre library re-opens in Jewry Street with its own performing arts space.

But members of the county council's Winchester Hampshire Action Team (Hat) recommended yesterday (June 28) that the Cllr Snaith defers her decision to allow more time for consultation and research.

Several members vented their anger over the way in which the proposal to hand over management of the arts centre to Kings' School had been "rushed".

Cllr Peter Mason, member for Bishop's Waltham, said: "I think this is all being done far too fast in a rush with not enough consultation all round. It should be deferred."

Cllr Phrynette Dickens, ward member for Winchester Westgate, said: "I didn't have the chance to comment. People are very concerned and the community needs to know what's going to be catered for and they've had no chance to be consulted - it's taxpayers' money and they need to know.

"We've had no chance to comment properly. It seems to be very much in a rush."

Cllr Charlotte Bailey, member for Winchester Downlands, added: "The whole point about county councillors commenting is so officers take it on board."

The Hat members, chaired by Councillor Freddie Allgood, recommended that the decision was deferred for one year from the opening of the Discovery Centre so they could see if it was necessary to hand over the Tower Arts Centre to King's School.

According to a report on the Tower's future, Kings' School envisages the Tower being run as part of its sport and community business provision and would still be used for community activities.

The school hopes to keep the annual children's festival, the battle of the bands, and classes run during the day. It also hopes to retain the gallery space to exhibit work of local artists.

The castle-like venue has been told not to book any acts after Christmas, because the county council believes it will result in a duplication of services once the revamped Discovery Centre opens in Jewry Street in November.

But fans of the arts centre disagree and have launched their own campaign to save it. Last Friday (June 22) around 60 people - including Winchester MP Mark Oaten and his wife, Belinda, who attends a class at the centre - gathered outside the venue in protest.

An online petition with around 426 signatures - including those of performers such as Gordon Giltrap - has been set up and a "Save the Tower Arts Centre" group has also been established on social networking