A HUGE bid for half a million pounds has been submitted by the Engine Room to ensure Bridgwater's community media centre can run for at least another five years.

Details of the request for sizeable grant were released by Sedgemoor District Council in the run up to its Executive meeting tomorrow (December 19), which will look at the future of the town facility.

The council says the Engine Room should know whether it has been successful in its application to the Big Lottery fund by the end of this year.

Phil Shepherd, spokesman for the media centre, said the bid was one of many launched to secure money for the town facility.

"It's not really something we were publicising at the moment because it is part of our business plan," he told the Mercury.

"We are always appealing in places because sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

"If it were to be successful we see ourselves running a film and digital media programme across Somerset for the next five years."

The council's report says the Engine Room is also looking to bid for capital investment from the Regional Development Agency and it has been suggested its chances would be maximised if it were part of Sedgemoor's regeneration ambitions.

In the document, other elements concerning the future of the centre are also detailed - including the possibility of a change of premises.

"The Engine Room has indicated that they would like to stay in their current site, which has a good footprint on Bridgwater High Street, but would consider options to move, if there were an overriding imperative to do so," it reads.

"The Engine Room's current lease expired in February 2006 and is held over by mutual consent but this situation has not enhanced its bids for external funding.

"The Engine Room has sought a further three-year rent-free period. The council needs to resolve whether this is better done by way of a grant. The Engine Room's accommodation will be an important factor in considering options for the town hall island site."