A doomed sports centre may have a new lease of life as a focal point for performing arts, writes Nick Evans.

Arts group A Page Abingdon Performing Arts Group is lobbying to turn the town's Old Gaol into an arts centre.

The Old Gaol is set to close in 2002 when it will be replaced by the new 7.8m Phoenix leisure centre to be built at Abingdon Science Park.

The A Page group, which represents 33 arts groups in Abingdon and surrounding villages, has had a favourable response from the Town Centre Forum, a group set up by the county, district and town councils to decide the fate of the Old Gaol.

Malcolm Ross, who represents A Page, said: "We have been pushing the idea to the forum for some time and we made an initial presentation to them in the spring. A meeting last week went pretty well and they now want to look at a feasibility study for an arts centre." He added: "When we made the initial approach we were not sure where the centre could be, but we are keen that it should be in the town centre.

"The Old Gaol would be an ideal place. It's early days yet and there are many hurdles to get over, but we are going to look in detail at the financial im- plications."

The 7.8m centre will be known as the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, a name chosen after a survey of residents.