THE NEWS that Jodrell Bank is facing possible closure has brought near-universal condemnation.

In Macclesfield and beyond, scientists, schools, funders and friends of the centre have made their views on its threatened future crystal clear – don’t shut our observatory!

As the scientific community consult on whether the world-renowned centre should be spared, Express readers have also added their voice to the protest, with more than 85 per cent calling for it to be saved in our online poll.

Astronomy’s most famous face, former TV presenter Sir Patrick Moore, slammed funding chiefs for their "short-sightedness", warning that the international community "would laugh at us" if Jodrell Bank closed.

He said: "I simply can’t believe it. It is still one of the best observatories in the world."

And the town’s business community is worried too, concerned that the loss of Jodrell could mean the loss of a vital tourism cash cow.

The future of perhaps Britain’s most recognisable observatory is in jeopardy after it was classed as a "low-priority" in a government-linked report last week.

Major funder, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), is looking to save an estimated £2.7million-a-year in science spending from 2009.

And they are threatening to sacrifice Jodrell Bank in the process.

The possible loss of the site comes despite near-completion of an £8m upgrade to the eMerlin seven-dish network, of which the Lovell telescope in Lower Withington is easily the best known.

With more than 70,000 visitors last year, the world-renowned site remains a huge tourist draw and also generates valuable funds for the borough.

The observatory employs 50 people, with a further 90 researchers, engineers and other staff from Manchester University, which owns the site, working there periodically.

And as revealed in the Express in January, it is being looked at as a possible future UN World Heritage Site.

In 2006, the dish won a BBC public poll to find the most unsung landmark in Britain, while 2009 has ironically been declared the International Year of Astronomy.

Support for the observatory in the wake of last week’s news has left both its current boss and spiritual father "stunned".

Jodrell Bank’s director, Dr Phil Diamond, said: "I am stunned by the level of support from every corner. It has been fantastic.

"I’ve had emails of support from Australia and America. Sir Patrick Moore called me up on Thursday and told me he was outraged.

"There is a great deal of affection for Jodrell Bank and its place in British history. It’s an icon of British science and I’m well aware of how the public feel about it. To be put on the low priority list I find incredible. It would be a catastrophic loss but it does need to be stressed that no decision has been made.

"We have to wait for this consultation process with other scientists to finish, which could take several weeks."

Dr Diamond believes the timing of the funding threat is bizarre. "The STFC has said that all the projects on the list are doing good science and previously we have got excellent reviews, which makes it all the harder to understand," he said.

Celebrated founder of the Lovell radio telescope meanwhile, Sir Bernard Lovell, feels the cuts would be a "disaster".

In an interview with The Times, the 94-year-old, who still visits the observatory every day, said axing the project would be senseless.

"I’m deeply attached to Jodrell Bank. It’s still an inspiration."

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