STARS from the entertainment world are backing a campaign to save the closure-threatened Pacific Road Arts Centre.

It faces the axe, along with libraries and leisure centres across the borough, as part of Wirral Council’s proposed strategic asset review.

A six-week consultation period is now underway and Wirral’s cabinet will meet on January 15 to discuss its results and make a final decision on the controversial proposal.

But many of those who have appeared at the Woodside venue since its opened nine years ago are shocked by news of its possible closure and have joined the fight to save it after being approached by an anonymous Wirral-based campaigner, who has sent the Globe copies of their replies.

Among them is Gordon Giltrap, who performed at the venue in November during the guitar festival.

“This is terrible news!” he said.

“I have played at this stunning venue many times over the years. Where will musicians like myself play in the Liverpool area if this venue closes?

"Please add my name to any petition you have if it helps to halt this closure.”

Dutch-guitarist Jan Akkerman, a fellow festival veteran, said: “It’s sad that such a great place is shut down because of cost-cutting. I hope the council will reconsider this.

“For me, it’s one of the finest venues in Britain, It would be a great loss to everyone involved, and that includes me. Hope for the best for 2009.”

Impressionist Phil Cool, who returned to the venue with his stand-up show in October, said: “Having performed at Pacific Road over the past few years I have really appreciated the quality of this fantastic venue, with its extremely helpful and enthusiastic staff and an appreciative and supportive audience.

“I have worked in countless theatres for over 30 years the length and breadth of the country and it is one of the best I have come across.

“The people of Birkenhead and Wirral should be proud of it. If this theatre was to close it would be an absolute shame for the people of the Wirral. It needs to be kept open, at any cost.”

Comedian Bobby Ball, who staged a show last year with comedy partner Tommy Cannon, said: “It is such a shame that Pacific Road Arts centre is about to close its doors.

The NorthWest is known for bringing arts and entertainment to the rest of the country and it is such a shame that other up and coming perfomers will not have ther chance to perform there. it is very sad.”

John Taylor, the Wirral-based owner of a management company which looks after musicians that have appeared at the venue over the years, said: “A community such as Birkenhead needs something special to attract such people and the community, served by its councillors, deserves the chance to have these people and their contemporaries visit them.

“Pacific Road Arts Centre is such a place and if it were not there it is certain, not just unlikely, that the local authority would not then be able to serve the community in the best way.

“I have experience across many years of what actually happens when councillors cut back on what they deem to be money that could be saved 'without too much fuss', a void is created that during the course of their tenure at Town Hall may not be obvious but that over the course of the next ten years becomes blindingly so.

“I would urge that a place such as Pacific Road be classed as a necessity by its owners and funding bodies and not as politically expendable. It is as necessary as a library, museum or gallery and a darn sight more immediate and closer to the community, giving a multitude of choices and uses.”

Penny Betney from the Gladstone Theatre Trust said “Our two resident societies and a number of others only use this theatre.

“However all are interested in the arts in general and will no doubt be saddened to hear of the intended closure of Pacific Road, museums and libraries”.