A WOULD-BE saviour of the Winter Gardens has denied rumours that his organisation is only interested in taking over all council-owned entertainment venues in Bournemouth.

Derek Barr, chief executive of the Fairfield Consortium - which runs Croydon's Fairfield Halls - told the Daily Echo: "Apparently there's a story going round that we want to run all or we don't want to run any. We have never said that to the council."

Bournemouth Borough Council's Liberal Democrat leadership had pledged to save the concert hall but is now considering replacing it with a smaller venue.

Mr Barr confirmed that the consortium, which first put forward its proposals for the Winter Gardens four years ago, was still interested in running the venue. But he expressed concern that the state of the building would make it commercially unviable.

Cllr Adrian Fudge, the council's cabinet member for quality services and value for money, said: "If somebody can come forward still with a scheme that's viable as far as that building's concerned, it would still be considered because no decisions have been taken."

But, he said, previous schemes for the Winter Gardens had required subsidies of more than £1 million a year, which the council could not afford.

"If somebody wanted to come forward with a business plan that works without a huge amount of ongoing subsidy, it would be looked at," he said.

Stephen Godsall, Bournemouth's director of leisure and tourism, said Fairfield had said it could operate the Winter Gardens without subsidy as a commercial venture, but would need a subsidy to run it as an arts and concerts venue.

"The council is still considering options for the Winter Gardens.

"We're always happy to discuss with Fairfield Halls or the Winter Gardens Trust any proposals for its operation."

Fairfield Halls are operated by a charity and receive a local authority subsidy of £300,000 a year. Mr Barr said: "You can't run community events without some form of public funding, but the council may wish to subsidise community groups and not the hall."

First published: November 16, 2004