Jodrell Bank has brighter future

Jul 4 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

THE future of Jodrell Bank should be secure after details of government funding were released yesterday.

The Government have pledged to contribute towards the running costs of the radio astronomy centre in Cheshire.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) met just down the road at Daresbury’s laboratory, in Cheshire, on Tuesday. But eMerlin radio astronomy network based at Jodrell Bank will need extra money to survive.

STFC added discussions with stakeholders were taking place to ensure its viability.

The Daresbury Laboratory itself was also facing a serious reduction in its operations. But, as predicted by The Daily Post this week, the STFC has confirmed that it will operate the Alice accelerator science and technology programme from the site.