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Scientists fear radio telescope may be shut in cuts

Clare Ashford,in Shropshireand
Charlie Stubbs,West Midlands
News imageBBC There is a big radio telescope dish which is worn. It has hints of white but is largely dirty and has darkened shades of black. It is on top of a field of yellow and has trees in the background.BBC
The radio telescope in Knockin is part of e-MERLIN, a globally significant group of seven sites across the UK

A radio telescope in Shropshire with a 25m (82ft) diameter dish, could be at risk of closing because of proposed cuts in national science funding.

The site in Knockin, near Oswestry, is part of e-MERLIN (Enhanced Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network), a globally significant group of seven sites across the UK.

However, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is expected to reduce funding across particle physics, astronomy and physics.

The organisation has been approached for comment on the proposals, which have prompted North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan to meet groups who are concerned about potential impact on them.

Liberal Democrat Morgan has also met with world-leading physicist Prof Brian Cox, who warned that the cuts could be as high £162m, roughly 30% of particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics research.

"There's a real concern that the researchers that use those radio telescopes will be the people that get the chop," Morgan said.

"That equipment will fall out of use, and we'll lose all that talent and all that kind of world-leading research from Britain."

News imageHelen Morgan MP On the left, there is a woman in a turquoise-teal blazer, white t-shirt and black trousers. She has blonde ear-length hair and is smiling. On her right, there is a man with black jeans, black trousers and a dark grey jacket. He also has brown hair brushed to his left.Helen Morgan MP
North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan met Prof Brian Cox when he visited the Houses of Parliament in June

She added that the centre in Shropshire is important for innovations and for keeping future generations of nuclear physicists in the UK.

"[This is] where the ground-breaking research into nuclear physics and things that have proper application in the real world comes from.

"There is a lot of competing technologies out there, lots of focus on AI technology in the government's stated announcements.

"But I think nuclear technology clearly is important in the future, particularly if we think about energy and reducing our carbon footprint."

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