Proposals to turn the landmark Henry Willis Organ Factory building into a community arts centre have been welcomed by Petersfield Town CouncilÕs planning committee

But members have raised concerns over car parking and conjestion in the area.

The Petersfield Rotunda Arts Project has made a planning application to use the entire three storey building as a centre.

Peter Wilson, who moved to Petersfield to take on the project, has long experience the media world. He told The Herald his group were in negotiation to buy the building.

ÒI hope our plan will come to fruition as it would be a shame to see this building lost to the community,Ó he said. ÒIt could be such a valuable asset and also provide jobs.Ó

At a Town Council planning committee meeting on Tuesday night councillor Chris Jenner said: ÒI do have have severe difficulties with certain aspects of it.Ó

He said that several residents had also raised concerns about the parking situation.

He said: ÒCommuters do cause a nuisance in this area, parking in the road.Ó

But overall the committee welcomed the proposal describing it as Òpotentially very excitingÓ.

The proposal intends to make use of the existing building and total site with little or no internal structural change.

The ground floor factory area would be used for performance and rehearsals, conferences, as a cinema and exhibition centre, and as an educational, day care or special needs facility.

The reception area was already equipped with a box office.

Areas such as the pipe design room and store rooms could be used as workshop and studio space for schools, visiting and local artists as well as providing a home for broadband, digital or film school activities.

The deep balcony area on the first floor would provide a multi-functional exhibition space with raked stacked seating installed in the southern area of the building.

The third floor would remain unchanged until needed as the project developed.

Mr Wilson said he thought the project could offer between ten and thirty jobs according to the activities taking place in the building at the time.

ÒIf anyone would like to comment on our project I would be delighted to hear from them,Ó he said. ÒPlease contact me on 01730 268812 or email [email protected]">[email protected].Ó

The building in Rushes Road, which was purpose built for the Willis company in 1967, closed at the beginning of last year and has been on the market since May