A CAMPAIGN group set up to oppose plans to scrap Newport’s iconic Festival Clock has attracted 430 members.

Hundreds of people have joined the Facebook group Save the Newport “In the Nick of Time” Clock, urging the council to reinstate it in John Frost Square.

Members expressed their outrage at the authority’s proposal to get rid of it, which could save it £8,000 a year in storage costs.

Group creator Rhinnane Lewis wrote: “The clock is up there with the Transporter Bridge, Goldie Lookin’ Chain, Rodney Parade and TJ’s – it’s part of our ‘Port identity. If enough people join, we will take our petition to the council.”

Another member, Sally Wallis, told the group she has written to developer Queensbury, which plans to build a shopping and leisure complex on the site, urging it to incorporate the clock into its plans.

She wrote: “I am certain that most people who live, work in or visit Newport would be delighted to see it put back in its proper place.

As an artwork and as a piece of engineering it is unique, a real statement piece.”

The Argus has also received many letters on the issue from readers who branded the scrapping of the “amazing feat of engineering” a “sacrilege”.

Originally commissioned to represent Newport at the Garden Festival in 1992, the extraordinary clock, which billowed smoke and characters popped out of every hour, later found a home in John Frost Square.

But the device, which needs around £50,000 of repairs, was removed from the city centre in 2006 to make way for the city centre redevelopment.

It was dismantled and put into storage and in 2008, we reported how the council was looking to apply for grants to restore it to its full working condition.

Now the authority proposes getting rid of it as part of proposals to balance its 2012/13 budget.

Have your say on the plans at newport.gov.uk/budget