Proposed animal testing site "totally unsuitable"

2.23.24pm GMT Mon 1st Dec 2008

Prospective MP for Meon Valley Liz Leffman has condemned a proposal to site an animal testing laboratory in the village of Lower Upham as "totally unsuitable"

Liz Leffman visited Lower Upham on Friday together with MP Mark Oaten, to meet local residents, following the news that Wickham Research Laboratories plan to re-locate to a disused farm site in the village.

A previous planning application was turned down by Winchester City Council but the decision was overturned at appeal, due to a technicality. Now residents have seen plans that include a two-storey building, and space for 100 employees. The building will back onto the gardens of residents in Scivier's Lane.

"I am not against animal testing, because it is an important part of finding cures for many human diseases" said Liz Leffman, "But Lower Upham is not a suitable location for this laboratory. Inadequate proposals for water treatment, security issues which have not been properly addressed, and the traffic that the lab will generate are all matters for great concern."

Liz Leffman will be writing to Winchester City Council to ask for the plans to be rejected.