Jodrell Bank Observatory faces closure as funding cuts spark 5,000‑signature petition

The Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, home to the Lovell Telescope, is at risk of closure after UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced that the e‑MERLIN radio astronomy project will not receive further funding beyond its current agreement ending in March 2028. The decision threatens the facility’s £2.8 million annual grant, could affect up to 3,000 researchers and put 28 jobs directly at risk.

A public campaign launched by the Manchester Evening News has gathered more than 5,000 signatures on a petition to save the observatory. The petition has been backed by notable figures including Sir Brian May, musicians Johnny Marr and Jarvis Cocker, astronauts Tim Peake and Chris Hadfield, and scientists such as Professor Brian Cox. An open letter to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, signed by these supporters, condemned the funding cuts as “foolish and short‑sighted.”

Scientists and the observatory’s associate director Tim O’Brien have expressed gratitude for the public response and hope for a solution that would allow the facility to continue its role in international radio‑astronomy research.