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Wynyard Woodland Park planetarium future in doubt | Wynyard Woodland Park planetarium future in doubt |
(35 minutes later) | |
New owners are needed to save a planetarium and observatory from closure as part of £9.5m budget cuts. | New owners are needed to save a planetarium and observatory from closure as part of £9.5m budget cuts. |
The plans, which also mean 300 posts will be cut by 2016-17 at Stockton Council, have received final approval. | |
Council leader Bob Cook, Labour, said there would also be a 30% cut in senior managers and £3.5m saved from "back-office functions". | |
He added the planetarium at Wynyard Woodland Park could be let at a peppercorn rent to help keep it open. | |
The planetarium, which opened in 2001 and is the only one of its kind on Teesside, along with the observatory which was opened in 1994, once attracted 10,000 visitors a year. | |
However, staff costs were reduced and the number has since dropped to 7,500 a year. | |
'Loss of heritage' | 'Loss of heritage' |
It is currently run by Stockton Borough Council with the assistance of the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society (CaDAS) and the Durham Astronomical Society. | |
The chairman of CaDAS, Jurgen Schmoll, said: "The CaDAS would lose its venue and with the society being involved in building the place, there would be an additional loss of some CaDAS heritage. | The chairman of CaDAS, Jurgen Schmoll, said: "The CaDAS would lose its venue and with the society being involved in building the place, there would be an additional loss of some CaDAS heritage. |
"The planetarium offers many child-friendly programmes aimed at scout groups and schools which help to bring science as a possible career option to young people." | "The planetarium offers many child-friendly programmes aimed at scout groups and schools which help to bring science as a possible career option to young people." |
The council said the savings were necessary because of a 58% reduction in government funding. | The council said the savings were necessary because of a 58% reduction in government funding. |
A total of £18m needs to be cut from the budget by 2016-17. | |
Mr Cook said the total number of job losses in the period between 2010 and 2017 would eventually reach 900. |
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