A BRENTFORD arts centre which has had its funding slashed has applied for a judicial review of the decision at the High Court.

Watermans, based in High Street, lodged the application against the Arts Council's move due to its 'unfair and irrational' approach to the cut of millions of pounds of financial support.

The riverside facility - one of the leading Asian arts venues in the country - claims evidence about its success and local community impact was roundly ignored by the body in its consideration of the case.

Karam Bhuller, chair of Watermans, admitted legal action 'had not been taken lightly' and would be an 'expensive and disruptive process' costing money and time better spent on the community.

But she added: "It is iniquitous that the Arts Council's failure to do things properly, and intransigence when faced with its incompetence, should result in a charitable body like Watermans having to spend its scarce funds to get justice."

The centre is the second organisation to apply for judicial review of the Arts Council's programme of cuts announced last December, following recent legal action by Union Dance Company.

It has already been forced to add a £1 optional levy to cinema tickets following the cut. :