LANCASTER and Morecambe would become a cultural wasteland if proposed cuts to arts and leisure services get the go ahead.

That's the view of the district's heritage and artistic community which this week sounded a chorus of disapproval at the cost-cutting proposals recently revealed by the city council.

There was standing room only at a packed public meeting at Lancaster Town Hall on Tuesday night where feelings ran high in opposition to the proposed changes.

Council chiefs have been astonished at the reaction and claim that the controversial report is merely a consultation document which has been drawn up in line with Government guidelines and offers a range of options for discussion.

The proposals drawn up by the new Director of Regeneration, John Donnellon, suggested that the council's leisure, museums, arts and events and tourism services should be amalgamated into one large cultural services department.

This could lead to job losses, including senior service heads, and also the privatisation of the council's events and festivals.

Mr Donnellon's report also suggested moving Lancaster's Tourist Information centre to the City Museum in Market Square and also the possibility of moving or closing the City Museum altogether - which has provoked the strongest protests.

MP Hilton Dawson, who organised the meeting at the Town Hall, said: "Although the Council is in financial difficulties and has to set a legal budget, there's a bottom line beyond which they must not go, and some of these proposals go beyond that. The cultural and artistic life of the city is essential to its quality of life, and to its attractiveness for tourists, and is vitally important that they do not let that go."

He added: "The overwhelming message is that we don't want these

cuts but we do want all sides to work together - and it will be a great day for Lancaster if we can work on that."

Cllr John Barry, Leader of the Green Group, said the proposals would result in "enormous vandalism of services people in this town have come to value", but his group believed the savings could be found in other ways.

Historian Robert Poole said: "It is false economy to cut the heritage services. You can't save Morecambe by casting Lancaster aside."

He proposed that all councillors get together "to seize control of the budget and of our heritage."