Animal testing lab wins right to site appeal
A controversial animal testing laboratory has won a new hearing in its bid to move to a new rural site.
Wickham Labs' application to move its operation from the village near Fareham to Lower Upham in the Meon Valley was rejected unanimously by Winchester City Council's planning committee last September.
But the labs have been given the right to an informal hearing on the matter which will be held by a state-appointed planning inspector.
The inspector could decide to overturn Winchester's decision and give the labs the green light to build a massive new laboratory at Torbay Farm in Sciviers Lane on the edge of the South Downs National Park.
The 10-member committee went against the recommendations of an officer's report to reject the plans for a building measuring 50m by 30m and nine-and-a-half metres high.
Jeanette McClunan, a member of protest group Stop Wickham Animal Testing (SWAT), said: 'It's no surprise that Wickham labs has appealed, as they have on other occasions, and what part of the word "no" doesn't Wickham labs understand?
'You would also think that with the present situation relating to Wickham labs, like the Home Office investigation into allegations relating to animal cruelty, that more bad publicity was the last thing they would want.
'Stop Wickham Animal Testing will do everything within the rules of the law to make sure that a new laboratory at Torbay Farm is never built.'
The labs are currently the subject of a Home Office investigation following an eight- month undercover operation by a member of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, which claimed to uncover malpractice.
Liz Leffman, prospective Lib Dem MP for Meon Valley, made a deputation at the original planning meeting against the plans, and has written to the inspector with her objections.
Chris Bishop, technical director of Wickham Labs, said: 'We were disappointed to be refused planning permission in September, as we believed we had met all the requirements of the planning application. We hope the appeal process will take all our efforts into account when making a decision.
'If we are successful, our priority is to continue to build on the foundations of our expertise and excel into the future.'
The appeal will take place in the spring.
It will be open for the public to attend, but a time, date and location have yet to be fixed.
>> Vote in our latest web poll.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
