Sandbach's MP, Sarah Russell, has written to Ministers and is speaking to the University of Manchester following the news about funding cuts for the Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) agency announced this week here that it has to cut the site's £2.8 million annual budget as the costs of planned research and the running of its labs have escalated.

Congleton MP, Sarah Russell, whose constituency includes Sandbach, said: "I have written to Ministers and am engaging with the University of Manchester who run the e-MERLIN project using the 76m telescope.

"I'm pleased the that funding is in place for Jodrell Bank to continue to host the Global Headquarters of of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)

"I do believe it is vital that a sustainable funding solution is found to keep the Lovell Telescope and e-Merlin in operation beyond 2028."

Se added: "The telescope is a world-leading scientific asset and has been an iconic part of the Cheshire landscape for 70 years and an inspiration for the 125,000 visitors, including 25,000 school pupils who visit each year.

"Before becoming an MP I visited several times and have been honoured to visit in an official capacity as well as speaking about the importance of work at Jodrell Bank in Parliament."

Her views are echoed by an astrophysicist from Sandbach who works at the European Space Agency in the Netherlands.

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Dr Sam Pearson, a former student of Sandbach School on hearing the funding issue said: "This is terrible news. I really hope they can find some funding.

"It's a big blow for UK science and very shortsighted. It is unfortunately part of a growing trend with big cuts to UK science across the board."

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