DESPITE protests from campaigners, control of the Tower Arts Centre will pass to a Winchester school.

Cllr Margaret Snaith, Hampshire county executive member for recreation and heritage, made the decision this afternoon (July 5).

She added that she had considered the move for nearly a year.

The plan to transfer the centre from the authority to Kings' School became public last month.

Campaigners started an online petition, which has attracted 700 signatures, and rallied outside the building.

They raised concerns that the variety of shows and community workshops would decline if the school took over.

Protesters lobbied Cllr Snaith ahead of her decision today.

One of them, Lynda Banister, said: "The public reaction has been immediate and powerful. People are saying they are astonished', outraged', and horrified'."

Another campaigner, Simon King, said the proposed performance space at Winchester's revamped library was not an adequate substitute.

"As a musician, I like to make a lot of noise, and putting a performance space in a library seems a bit odd," he added.

Cllr Charlotte Bailey, Lib Dem, argued that residents were given no chance to comment.

"It seems as though it's just a decision that has been made internally," she said.

Her party colleague, Cllr Peter Chegwyn, described the centre as a "jewel in the crown".

He added: "I think it's a retrograde step that will do enormous damage to the arts in Winchester."

Cllr Snaith replied that the performance space at the library would also be a "jewel in the crown".

She added that transferring the centre - which receives around £100,000 per year from the council - to the school would secure its future.

"The alternative could be to close the Tower Arts Centre, as this is public money we're talking about."

She then said the council had to balance its books, and she had considered the plans for nearly a year.

Sue Lawrence, headteacher of Kings' School, added that the community would still be able to use the centre.

"We don't see it as a Kings' School building, we see it as Winchester's building," she said.

Control of the centre, which opened in 1969, is now due to be transferred on January 1, 2008.

After the meeting, protesters said their campaign would continue, and the decision would be challenged if possible.