Research experts' plea for jobs

Plans to axe the climate change centre have caused a storm

Scientists who face losing their jobs if a research centre in Aberdeenshire is axed have made their case to the man behind the plans.

Professor Alan Thorpe was visiting the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Banchory, which employs 40 experts.

The proposal to close the climate change centre has outraged ecology and green groups, who condemned the plans as "highly damaging".

The Natural Environment Research Council said it wanted to cut costs.

The centre is among four out of eight centres in the UK facing shutdown.

Managers of the council said they would do their best to minimise the effect of any closure but it was too expensive to maintain so many sites.

For the younger members of staff it's appalling Dr Adam Watson Research scientist

The centre's work includes addressing the impact of climate change on seabirds and other wildlife.

One of the scientists, Dr Adam Watson, said: "For the younger members of staff it's appalling.

"It's also appalling that that there should be a cut from 600 to about 400 of the total staff at this time when governments worldwide are concerned about pollution and climate change."

Dr Jeremy Wilson of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said: "It really is important that the kind of scientific exercise that exists here is allowed to flourish and isn't put under threat by financial cutbacks."

Liberal Democrat MSP for West Aberdeenshire Mike Rumbles said: "I'm hopeful that even at this late stage minds can be changed."