HAMPSHIRE's civic boss is being pressed not to rubberstamp the controversial transfer of a Winchester arts centre.

Ken Thornber will consider the move to hand the Tower Arts Centre to Kings' School at his next decision day tomorrow.

Last week Margaret Snaith, the council's recreation and heritage chief, backed the move which has led to a protest petition attracting some 870 signatures.

Campaigners are staging a protest outside the county council offices before Mr Thornber's meeting.

The controversial plan was revealed by the Daily Echo last month, sparking allegations that the county council was acting in an underhand way.

Leading campaigner Alistair Marsden said: "I'm very angry about the way it has been dealt with. The county council has not explored all the options. There has been a lack of transparency."

Mr Marsden, a chartered accountant, has written to the board of governors of Kings' School urging them to defer the takeover for a year to allow for fuller consultation.

He believes the cost of running the centre has not been fully recognised.

The county council argues that the Tower will be superfluous when the £7m Discovery Centre opens in Winchester in the autumn.

Mr Marsden questioned whether the new centre will be able to stage Tower-style music events. He fears that popular evening events at the Tower, notably music and comedy, will be jettisoned.

"The performance space at the Discovery has a sprung floor which will not be very good for live music. In effect it will mean Winchester losing an arts venue," he said.

Ironically the transfer comes as the Tower reports strong audience figures.

Audiences are up from 11,731 in 2004-05 to 15,054 in 2006-07 an increase of 28.5 per cent.

The city council gives an annual grant of some £20,000. In the light of the transfer the city council will be reviewing how much money it gives in future.