COMMUNITY groups interested in ‘adopting’ resources from an acclaimed facility are being sought.

Keighley College announced last month that it was closing its loss-making STAR Centre, plus the adjoining Fab Lab.

But bosses at the Bradford Road campus hope organisations in the town may take on – and continue – some of the provision.

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.

College principal, Heather Whitehead, says: “Despite huge investment from groups such as Yorkshire Forward, the facilities have always made a loss.

“The Fab Lab was transferred to the college due to the council struggling to make it viable. Throughout the years, various attempts have been made to change how it operates to cut these losses.

“The college has not received any funding for the facilities for many years. The losses therefore have to be met by the income received for post-16 students.

“Income for the further education sector has never been tighter, with no increase for over five years.

“We are therefore faced with making tough decisions if we are to maintain the quality of delivery.

“We hope there will be local groups interested in adopting the resources.”

The college says it will be using the space created by the closure to develop a dedicated, higher-education centre to meet increased demand for degree students.

“We are sad to be closing facilities but staff are excited about this new centre,” she added.

“It will raise aspirations, whilst responding to the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership priorities for higher skills in health and engineering.”

Keighley MP John Grogan had raised the issue with the college when it made the closure announcement.

He said this week: “I am pleased that after many representations and discussions, the college has listened carefully and revised its proposals somewhat.

“Many people in the town invested a lot of time and effort into building up the Fab Lab and the STAR Centre and it is important that all the good work is not lost completely.

“Compared with what was planned originally, it will certainly be welcome if the STAR Centre stays in the town in a new home.”

Any groups interested in adopting the STAR Centre resources is asked to e-mail Heather.whitehead@keighleycollege.ac.uk or call 01535 685050 or 07827 988252 by next Monday, March 25.