I’ve been a keen amateur astronomer since my teens and have lived in this part of East Sussex for over 50 years. Many of you I am sure will have visited nearby Herstmonceux Castle and the Observatory Science Centre (OSC) which has been there since the 1990s. Visits in an earlier period were an inspiration to me as a teenager with a passion for amateur Astronomy - an interest which has lasted to this day.
The Observatory Science Centre offers tremendous educational support for local children and people to develop their interest in science and attracts visitors from all over the world. The site is of historic national significance to astronomy and offers considerable convening power for those seeking to develop an interest in STEM subjects. It remains a pretty good dark sky site in the South East of England - an increasing rarity these days - for amateur astronomers & those seeking to learn more about the subject to meet and hold events.
Sadly, the site owners, Bader College Queens University Canada, have informed the Observatory Science Centre that their lease will not be renewed in 2026. There is no further substantive information as yet as to what they intend for this site and its buildings. Given its proximity to Hailsham, this a tremendous local educational asset which I believe we would all be the poorer for no longer having access to I am sharing this online petition posted by Zara Drake for anyone who feels motivated to try to help secure a future for the Observatory Science Centre. It has attracted nearly 4,200 signatures to-date.
Although there are limits on what influence the County Council or any local authority can have on a discussion over the terms of a private lease between the Observatory Science Centre and Bader College, there is a very clear public interest issue at stake which I would imagine a University keen to retain its reputational credentials as an institution for enabling and empowering learning would want to weigh in its deliberations.
The Observatory Science Centre performs a very valuable local STEM educational role; it is a valuable asset from a 1066 tourism perspective, attracting visitor numbers in excess of 60,000 annually; and the site is also one of historic national significance to astronomy.
In this light, I have written to my colleagues Councillor Penny Di Cara, Cabinet Lead Member for the Economy, and Councillor Bob Standley, Lead Member for Education, asking whether it might be possible for officers to explore exactly what the Observatory Science Centre's position and aspirations are. Second, that they communicate with the owner, Bader College, to establish what their plans for the site are. Third, that they seek to gain an understanding of what the fate of in situ astronomical equipment restored using Heritage Lottery Fund resources might be.
Furnished with those answers, we might then be able to explore, with County acting as a convening party, how the Observatory Science Centre’s valuable role might be preserved; either for it to remain on site or to assist in helping it to find a suitable alternative local location without interruption to its function in the interim period.
