ANGER has erupted at plans to close a popular facility at Keighley College.

Bosses at the Bradford Road campus have confirmed they propose to shut the STAR Centre, plus the adjoining Fab Lab.

A 30-day consultation is underway.

The college says the closure – which would potentially affect two jobs – would pave the way for a new, higher-education offering.

But the move has come under fire.

Ray Barber, who set-up the original STAR Centre at the college’s former Chesham Street site and oversaw its relocation to the new campus in 2010, says he is “deeply concerned” at the proposed closure.

“Keighley is fortunate to have this state-of-the-art teaching and learning environment for the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based subjects,” he said.

“Over the years, the resource has inspired thousands of schoolchildren into STEM activities, using space as a vehicle.

“The college recently received a good Ofsted report and was awarded ‘outstanding’ for its facilities, with the STAR Centre earning a particular mention.

“Surely at a time when the country is suffering a national shortage of engineers and scientists and when STEM is at the centre of a major push within education, to close such an established and successful facility is a mistake.

“And it is ironic the closure is planned as we prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landings.”

The STAR Centre includes a mission control, transit pod – which simulates space travel – a space laboratory and a mock Mars landscape.

Fab Lab, a cutting-edge design and advanced manufacturing facility, was incorporated into the campus – part of Leeds City College – in 2014.

It is equipped with machinery to produce a wide range of items, from furniture to engine components.

Keighley MP John Grogan is calling on the college to consult more widely over the plan, and not “keep it as an internal process and try to sneak it through without anybody noticing”.

He added: “The Fab Lab is one of 500 throughout the world which assist businesses to create and test new products using, amongst other techniques, 3D printing.

“The STAR Centre is used by local Scout groups as well as schools to excite interest in science.

“As the local MP it tells a story that to find out what was going on at Keighley College I had to ring Leeds College, where in reality decisions like this are made.

“In the long term it reinforces my view that the town would be better served if Keighley College was in an alliance with Shipley and Craven colleges, as a Government review recommended, so decisions could be made closer to home.”

Worth Valley district councillor Russell Brown, who has a background in adult education, has also spoken out against the proposal.

He said the STAR Centre had been providing a “mesmerising” educational experience for young people for many years, and that the Fab Lab was ideal for small businesses or individuals wanting to manufacture prototypes.

But Heather Whitehead, director of curriculum at Keighley College, said there was growing demand for higher education provision.

“The needs of the local community are at the forefront of our curriculum offer,” she added.

“The closure of the STAR Centre would mean that we’d be able to invest in a new higher education provision from the next academic year, offering degrees in engineering, health and education.

“This new offer would equip students with the skills they need to meet the workforce demands of the future.”

She added: "We understand that this is disappointing but is a decision from Keighley College which was not taken lightly.

"We are happy to speak to members of the community who have any concerns or questions about this decision.”