The radio telescope at Jodrell Bank is in the logo for North West Bylines, so we were more than interested to see that the iconic installation may be at risk over funding changes.
The observatory is home to the famous Lovell Telescope, and it also acts as the headquarters of the national e-Merlin radio telescope network, an array of 7 connected radio telescopes across the UK which are all connected by optical fibre.
The site also has the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, which attracts large numbers of tourists. In 2019 it was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is currently undertaking funding prioritisation exercises as a result of funding pressures on research facilities. Local councillors have consequently raised concerns over the future of the important site.
Concern from the local council
A motion was proposed by a mix of Conservative and Independent councillors at Cheshire East Council and debated at the full council meeting.
Jodrell Bank Observatory is one of the United Kingdom’s most significant scientific institutions and one of Cheshire East’s most important cultural, educational and economic assets…
It continues to contribute to world-leading scientific discovery whilst inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Facilities such as e-Merlin support a large international research community and are recognised as important components of the UK’s scientific infrastructure.
The observatory and visitor centre attract significant numbers of visitors each year including school groups, contributing to the local economy and strengthening Cheshire East’s reputation as a place of innovation and learning.
The importance of Jodrell Bank
Referring to the STFC ‘funding prioritisation exercises’, the motion added:
These processes could result in changes to funding allocations across a range of scientific programmes, and national facilities.
The Jodrell Bank Observatory (including e-Merlin) may be affected as part of those decisions. Council recognises that funding decisions remain subject to national prioritisation processes but believes that the strategic importance of Jodrell Bank warrants strong and continued support.”
The NoM asks council to give the go-ahead for the chief executive to write to the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation to highlight the importance of Jodrell Bank Observatory and the potential implications of national funding decisions.
It also calls for the Chief Executive to write to all Cheshire East MPs seeking their support in ensuring that the importance of Jodrell Bank is recognised in future funding decisions. Council reaffirms its support for Jodrell Bank Observatory as a major scientific, educational and economic asset for the borough
The motion was debated at the regular Cheshire East Council meeting on 15 July. The meeting was addressed by Simon Garrington, a director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, who stated:
Jodrell Bank and e-Merlin are something that Cheshire can be truly proud of, and which can continue to play a vital role, not just a beacon of science but as a capability of national importance. Without Jodrell Bank, the birthplace of much of radio astronomy, the UK will use radio telescopes in other countries but have no capability of its own.
What Jodrell Bank achieves
Philip Black, a PhD researcher at Jodrell Bank added:
Astronomy has driven advances in computing, imaging, cryogenics, data processing, artificial intelligence. Australian radio astronomers trying to study black holes developed signal processing techniques that helped make modern Wi-fi possible.
So, what will the Lovell Telescope and e-Merlin discover or enable 20 years from now?
I can’t tell you, and that’s the point. It will either be something extraordinary that none of us can yet predict, or we will defund it and leave Cheshire with a rusting monument to unfulfilled potential and discoveries never made.
Tim O’Brien said nearly six million visitors had been to Jodrell Bank over the years and that every year 25,000 are school pupils. He said,
As a tourist attraction, the economic impact of our visitor facility here for the year 24/25 was estimated to be £4.7m by independent consultants.
Cutting funding for the e-Merlin facility risks losing this unique science-based visitor attraction at a time when science and innovation are ever more crucial to our country’s prospects.
Extensive support from the councillors
Councillor Janet Clowes (Con) referred to the ‘potentially devastating impact any cessation of funding would have not just on the scientific world, but also on Cheshire East and the wider sub-region’.
Alsager councillor Rod Fletcher (Lib Dem) added: “Not to continue giving Jodrell Bank the money it needs would be an act of vandalism, absolute vandalism.”
Cllr Craig Browne (Alderley Edge, Ind) highlighted the importance of the site for space, defence and security.
“Jodrell Bank has demonstrated to no lesser organisations than NATO, the Ministry of Defence and space agencies, that it can play an important role in this regard, and the use of Jodrell Bank and e-Merlin for observations of objects and threats in orbit, including not just space debris but also hostile actors…has already been well demonstrated,” he said.
Another councillor added that “cutting its funding would be an act of absolute vandalism”.
Cllr Russell Chadwick (Dane Valley, Con) said: “Work undertaken at Jodrell Bank, including through the e-Merlin network, supports world-class research, attracts international collaboration, inspires thousands of young people to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology, and brings significant benefits to our local economy.”
The motion was overwhelmingly passed by the Council. Now council leaders and the chief executive will write to the Minister of State for Science, to highlight the importance of Jodrell Bank Observatory and the potential implications of national funding decisions.
What happens next?
We contacted the University of Manchester and the local MP for comment. The response from the university pointed out that the threat to funding exists for the observatory alone and does not relate to the visitor centre which is funded via a different budget. They added
The threat to the future of Jodrell Bank resulting from savings required to be made by the Science & Technology Facilities Council is a very real issue.
We are of course very grateful for the support expressed by Cheshire East Council.
There has been a general announcement from UKRI/STFC regarding the level of cuts required to facilities and projects but we are not yet able to provide information on the direct impact to Jodrell Bank and e-MERLIN. We expect an official letter from them very soon and would be very pleased to share further information with you when possible and are happy to welcome you to visit or to engage in further discussion.
Unfortunately the local MP, Sarah Russell (Labour), did not provide a comment.
We will continue to monitor the future of the complex and follow up with the university, until the future of the centre is decided. We are hoping to keep our logo for a lot longer!
Partly based on articles by Local Democracy Reporter Belinda Ryan.
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