CAMPAIGNERS fear a neglected listed building will be used for religion rather than the arts if an evangelical church gets its way.

The Studio in Beckenham Road, Beckenham, has lain empty since it was forced to shut its doors in 2003 after figures revealed it was losing around £60,000 a year.

It had served the town as an arts venue since 1903, on land donated by philanthropist Albemarle Cator.

After several unsuccessful attempts by organisations to reopen the building, Citygate Christian Outreach Centre agreed to take over the lease from Bromley Council last year.

At the time, Citygate said it hoped to transform the building into a £250,000 community facility offering music, dance and drama workshops.

But campaign group Save the Studio (STS) is concerned about the church’s plans which will go before a Bromley Council planning committee tomorrow.

STS member Garnet Frost said: “Citygate is a fundamental Evangelist Christian sect.

“If it intends to use it as a community arts centre then the building is perfectly adequate as an arts centre.

“However, it is now pressing to reconfigure the augmentation of the floor levels.”

A Citygate spokesman said its application is to do with improving disabled access.

He added: “If our application is turned down tomorrow we won’t be doing anything with the studio because we have not signed any agreement yet.

“The council has specifically said it must be used for arts and the community.”