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18th March 2008

Jodrell Bank Faces Closure

The observatory Jodrell Bank is facing closure even though it attracts over 70,000 visitors a year.

The founder of Jodrell Bank Sir Bernard Lovell has spoken of his ‘astonishment’ that the observatory faces closure after so many years.

Sir Bernard Lovell set up the observatory in 1945, earning himself the name of a maverick astronomer. Thirteen years later the iconic telescope that bears his name, was installed at the observatory.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is the body responsible for the annual grant of £2.5 million given to the observatory. The body distributes space research funding and is facing an £80 million deficit for this year. Thus leading to them considering the withdrawal funding for Jodrell Bank.

Sir Bernard who is 94 said: “ We are all astonished. I’m sure some solution will be found. It is the wrong time to close.

“The work is of such fundamental importance. It would just not be sensible for them to pull the plug now.”

At Jodrell Bank there are two radio telescopes that are linked to five others across Britain, forming the e-merlin array. The array set up is the only one in the world that can rival Nasa’s Hubble telescope.

The new yet to be built international telescope, Square Kilometre Array, will have it European headquarters based at Jodrell Bank, which the funding body say will provide alternative employment.

However Jodrell Bank said this would not make the slightest bit of difference to their plight. Nothing will be able to replace the loss of the e-merlin, which astronomers home and abroad are eager to use.

The government will not challenge the decisions made by its funding body. They stated that the funding body decisions are purely based on their scientific merit.

Opposition politicians have called for the government to arrange alternative funding to be made available to Jodrell Bank.

Local MPs have been outraged and said: “ They have already spent millions on building the array and are now threatening to pull the plug on it.

“The government insists it places great priority on science and should do something to ensure it can continue carrying on its work.”

SOURCE:

Manchester Evening News