HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition calling for a historic observatory in Dundee to be saved from closure.
The Mills Observatory was gifted to the people of Dundee by twine manufacturer and amateur scientist John Mills in 1935 and is home to the Thomas Cooke telescope.
However, the building faces closure due to disrepair and maintenance issues.
“[It would be] a real shame to lose this historic Art Deco building and the Thomas Cooke telescope within,” said David Millar, who started a petition to save the observatory.
“The dome is Papier Mache, really interesting and worth preservation.
“This may be too little too late but I have set up a petition at change.org to get signatures and see if the astronomy community can put some leverage on the council to reconsider.”
The council has proposed closing the observatory to visitors during its usual opening months between October and March.
Council bosses believe the closure would save around £40,000 a year.
In response to concern about plans to close not only the observatory but also the Broughty Castle Museum and the Caird Park Golf Course, a spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “We understand the attachment that users and communities will have to them.
"At the same time, in the face of severe budget pressures we have a responsibility to focus our shrinking public funds on where they make the biggest difference to all of our citizens."
The petition has so far been signed by more than 400 people.
