MAJOR plans are under way to up-grade Eastleigh's arts and entertainment complex in an all-out bid to keep pace with its neighbouring city rivals.

It was in the late 1990s that The Point Dance Studio and a 300- seat theatre opened in the late Victorian town hall building to signal the town's arts revolution.

Now, civic chiefs have unveiled a £1.5m package which will boost facilities and ensure that The Point reaches a wider audience.

The civic leaders say that to stand still will mean that The Point will be overtaken by competitors, with developments and improvements scheduled for Winchester and Southampton.

Eastleigh's head of arts, Cheryl Butler, pictured, has warned that without further development The Point will not be able to increase its outreach and education programme and attract the best artists and staff.

The plans include:

A small space for children's performances and adult classes.

A larger conference room.

Space for small-scale performances, residency projects with the youth dance, youth theatre, dance and disability groups. Also more rehearsal space.

Additional catering

Dressing rooms for the dance studio.

Accommodation for ar-tists in residence.

Planning permission will be needed for the new development and in June councillors will be given a tour of the building to see how the proposals will unfold.

Cabinet member for leisure Alan Broadhurst, pictured, said: "It is a fantastic scheme. It will make better use of the main auditorium and give us more rehearsal space.

He said there was a shortage of conference space in the area and the plans would help to address the problem.