THE final curtain is coming down on the doomed Wycombe Arts Centre after years of its future hanging in the balance.

The centre, at Spring Gardens, High Wycombe, which has offered a home to many local arts groups, will close its doors next Thursday.

"We are gutted," said Claire-Louise West, a spokesman for Bucks Dance, which has relied heavily on Wycombe Arts Centre.

She added: "Generally people are bitterly disappointed about it.

"We and the rest of the local groups are losing a vital arts venue and it is the only sprung dance floor in High Wycombe."

The centre, which has a performance stage, dance studio, craft and artist studio spaces, has been a venue for local and professional arts activities.

Michael York, Chiltern Hills Arts Society president, said: "It's a great loss to groups and companies that currently use the centre and finding alternative premises is extremely difficult."

Buckinghamshire County Council, which owned and managed the centre, decided to close it in 1998 and sell off the site for housing.

Wycombe District Council stepped in on behalf of the local community and agreed to help keep the centre open on a temporary basis to allow users time to find alternative venues for their activities.

But Claire-Louise claims despite there being numerous venues in Wycombe, not all offer the facilities groups need.

She added: "We have been scrambling around to re-house our classes. It's been a real rush."

The centre has been used by many local arts groups, such as Fourways, HWMES, Wildcard Theatre Company, Raw Theatre, Bucks Dance Movement and artists and college graduates who have carried out their work there.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said: "The council, along with the local community of Spring Gardens, is sad to see the centre close."