THE Winter Gardens could become an expensive empty shell prone to vandalism unless a serious lottery bid is made, claim local campaigners.

Friends of the Winter Gardens, which is now known as the Victoria Pavilion, are concerned the landmark building could stand idle for years unless further cash is found.

The former theatre has already had more than £1 million spent on it to refurbish the exterior but Heritage Lottery has sent back a second bid to restore the entire building to its former glory.

Lottery bosses have said the bid by Buildings at Risk Trust (BART) failed to provide satisfactory information, raised legal and organisational difficulties and contained no viable business plan.

And the Friends fear for the future as vandal attacks increase and BART refuse to answer any questions about what they intend to do.

"Our principal concern is to see the Victoria Pavilion refurbished and restored to some sort of useful life and hope that an end user for the building will soon be identified in keeping with its character and purpose," said Evelyn Archer of the Friends.

"It would be most regrettable if the £1 million of public and charitable funds already expended were simply to leave us with a very expensive, empty shell."

Alan Bemrose from BART was unwilling to comment.

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