THE race to save the Winter Gardens is not just down to entrepreneur Richard Carr, a rival consortium claimed today.

The Fairfield Consortium says as far as it is concerned it is still in talks with the council following a meeting with leisure chiefs on Monday.

Project co-ordinator Roger Pell-Stevens told the Daily Echo the organisation was very interested in the Winter Gardens project which it saw as a great opportunity for Bournemouth.

"We still consider ourselves to be in the running until we are formally told we are not by the council," he said.

One arm of the consortium runs the famous Fairfield Halls in Croydon.

On Wednesday the Daily Echo revealed the council's Winter Gardens task group was pursuing negotiations with controversial businessman Richard Carr.

Director of Leisure and Tourism Stephen Godsall confirmed the council was still 'in contact' with Fairfield although not in negotiation.

"It is fair to say that that Richard Carr is the front runner and that the task force is in negotiation with Future 3000.

"But we haven't closed the door on anyone," he added. "We did have talks with Fairfield on Monday."

Although the Carr plan gives only 50 free days each year to the council, a number of other days would be set aside for a range of cultural activities and events, said Mr Godsall.

The council would get its share of good days like Fridays and Saturdays, he said.

It would be ultimately up to councillors to decide whether they were happy with the quality of the proposed programmes.

He said members would also have to decide whether what Future 3000 offered was in line with the original council brief to turn the Winter Gardens into a "cultural village" which would "add to Bournemouth's reputation as a resort of quality."

In addition, said Mr Godsall, anyone signing an agreement with the council would have to guarantee a substantial investment to refurbish the Winter Gardens - "in the region of several million pounds".

The latest position will be reported to a meeting of the full council on December 12 and the public will be consulted on whatever options are left on the table.

Some councillors still want to see the Winter Gardens demolished and the site redeveloped.