Cheshire East is to write to government highlighting the importance of Jodrell Bank amid threats to its future – with one councillor saying cutting its funding would be an act of 'absolute vandalism'.

The observatory near Holmes Chapel is home to the iconic Lovell Telescope, the headquarters of the national e-Merlin radio telescope network, the global headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement.

But the Science and Technology Facilities Council is currently undertaking funding prioritisation exercises – and this could potentially spell funding cuts for Jodrell Bank.

Top scientists attended this week's meeting of full council, which was held at Jodrell Bank, to explain why it must be allowed to continue its work.

Simon Garrington, a director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, told the meeting: "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."

Philip Black, a PhD researcher at Jodrell Bank, said: "Astronomy has driven advances in computing, imaging, cryogenics, data processing, artificial intelligence.

"And 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 it currently attracts 125,000 people every year and 25,000 are school pupils.

"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," he said.

"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."

Alsager councillor Rod Fletcher (Lib Dem) said: "Not to continue giving Jodrell Bank the money it needs would be an act of vandalism, absolute vandalism."

Wybunbury 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'.

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.

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 council leaders and 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.

The vote was 74 in favour with two councillors abstaining.

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