A campaigner fighting to ‘Save the Curve’ has said he will ‘eat my hat’ if the council manages to get a university to run the central library and performance venue in Slough town centre.

Preston Brooker, a former Labour councillor, launched a petition after Slough Borough Council said it could ‘explore’ the possibility of closing The Curve to save cash. Council leader Dexter Smith has since The Curve won’t close – but that he wants a university to run it instead.

But Mr Brooker said he doubted that a university would take on the responsibility of running the building while keeping it open to the public. He told the Observer: “I can’t see a university being in a hurry to take it over.

“If this often-trotted out idea if getting a university in here to run it works, I’ll eat my hat.”

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Slough Borough Council leaders agreed in budget proposals earlier this year to ways to save £730,000 on running The Curve next year. Spending plans suggested the council should ‘explore the closure or find alternative use of The Curve’.

But Conservative council leader Dexter Smith told the Observer he wants the council to keep the curve – but bring in a university as a private tenant to run it.

He says he’s had ‘three expressions of interest’ from higher education providers, including Thames Valley University which closed its Slough campus in 2010.

Councillor Smith said none of the providers ‘seem to have a problem with the idea that they retain the library and performance space that they can use but will also be available to the public.’

He admitted that public opening hours might be cut to suit new tenants – but he said as the landlord the council would be able to ensure Slough residents still get some access.

Preston Brooker and Slough Trades Union Council secretary Margery Thorogood campaigning to 'save The Curve' (Image: LDRS)

But Mr Brooker said he’ll be keeping a close eye on the council’s plans – and hopes to be able to ask further questions at the next full council meeting in September.

Council rules say that councillors must debate any petition sent to it that’s been signed by at least 1,500 Slough residents.

Mr Brooker’s e-petition on Slough Borough Council’s had received 997 signatures by last week’s deadline of August 21. But he says he gathered more than 1,000 signatures on a paper version.

That means Mr Brooker is confident his petition will be debated, even if some of the signatures are discounted for being duplicates or not having an eligible address in Slough.

He said: “I’d be gobsmacked if we don’t have 1,500 signatures. For them to not have it discussed at full council they’d have to knock out over 600 signatures.”

Slough Borough Council has until Thursday, September 5 to inform Mr Brooker whether his petition will be debated.