MULTI-million pound plans to re-open Bournemouth's Winter Gardens will go before decision-makers next week. (Sept 22)

Council leaders, who have committed themselves to saving the concert hall, will be asked to pick from one of three options:

Spending £1.6 million on essential repairs before handing the venue over to a charitable trust.

A £6 million plan to completely refurbish the hall in its current form.

A scheme of £8 million-£15 million to turn the venue into a major centre for the arts, housing not only music but dancing and conference banqueting. There could be a 300-seat second venue for performances and education.

Town Hall officers are recommending the biggest scheme, saying it would have a longer life and require less subsidy.

They no longer recommend trying to persuade the government to transfer £9.8 million of Private Finance Initiative grant from the Pavilion to the Winter Gardens. The money would instead come from the sale of Terrace Mount car park and possibly other assets.

Council cabinet member Cllr Adrian Fudge said he personally would be backing the £6 million scheme next Wednesday.

"We've got to go with what's realistic and what's achievable. I believe we've got to go for what probably will be a phase one - the £6 million option to get the place up and running and look longer term for further investment to make the thing even more viable," he said.

Cllr Fudge had hoped to have the concert hall open by Christmas but the report says it may not happen until Christmas 2006.

Cllr Fudge said it was important to do the job properly. "It would be totally wrong to spend money just to try to get the doors open again," he said.