§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) which sites in Great Britain have been investigated as suitable sites for radio telescopes of the kind at Jodrell Bank; and what considerations were borne in mind in deciding what is a suitable site;
(2) what investigations have been made in Wales as to a suitable site for a radio telescope for Manchester University that will not adversely affect visual amenities; and what sites other than that of Meifod have been considered.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsA suitable site must have maximum freedom from man-made interference for the estimated life of the telescope, which can only be obtained with an instrument of the size proposed by siting it in a shallow valley giving an horizon of a degree or so. The site must be sufficiently close to the parent university for the scientists to carry out both their teaching and research activities, and to Jodrell Bank, for combined operation with the existing telescopes. There must also be satisfactory meteorological and geological conditions. Because a new telescope would be remotely controlled from Jodrell Bank it was possible to look for sites at up to 100 miles distant. Investigations soon reduced the possible areas to four in North Wales and the Welsh Border. One site, at Meifod in Montgomeryshire, most nearly meets these conditions and further investigations are continuing there. A telescope sited at Meifod below the horizon should not affect visual amenities adversely.