UPDATE

http://www.camdengazette.co.uk

Homes row over plans for £523million science lab

nlnews@archant.co.uk
09 December 2009

THE bosses behind a controversial £523million science lab planned for the heart of Somers Town insist the project is "in the public good".

A 3.5-acre swathe of land known as Brill Place - which is behind the British Library - has been earmarked for the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) after being bought from the Government for £85million.

The high security centre, due to open in 2014, plans to conduct pioneering stem cell research to beat fatal diseases including cancer.

Unveiling detailed designs for the UKCMRI, Nobel laureate Sir Paul Nurse said: "This lab will keep Britain at the forefront of biomedical research in the world. It aims to understand how life works and how we can use that understanding to combat diseases across the spectrum. This is the most exciting science project in a generation."

The centre - a partnership between Cancer Research UK, The Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and University College London (UCL) - will attract leading scientists from around the world.

But neighbouring residents say the land should be used for new affordable homes, as outlined in a Camden Council planning brief dictating what should be built on the site.

The bosses behind the UKCMRI are hoping Camden Council will still grant the centre planning permission.

Professor Malcolm Grant, president of UCL, said: "The planning brief was established in 2003 on the understanding that what would take place would be a commercial development. We're not doing a commercial development. We're providing a development in the public good and dealing with funds from the taxpayer and charity organisations. It's not our brief to provide affordable housing."

He added that "Camden Council has been helpful without giving any particular indications as to what will happen".

UKCMRI will be classified as a Category 3 lab, meaning research into diseases such as influenza will be carried out - but not into deadlier viruses such as Ebola. Animal testing on rats would also take place. Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, chief executive of the MRC, moved to dampen fears of it becoming a potential terrorist target. He admitted there was an "inherent risk" but said he hoped the Home Office would provide top level security.

Helia Evans, chairwoman of the Ossulston tenants' and residents' association, said neighbours were not happy with the plans. She said: "Most people want housing because that's what we need."

A planning application for the scheme will be submitted in the spring.

A public consultation on the designs takes place tomorrow (Thursday) at Cooper's Lane Community Centre, in Purchese Street, Somers Town, from 3pm to 7pm, Friday from 4pm to 7pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

EARLY DAY MOTIONS

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/edms.cfm

Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDMs are actually debated. Instead, they are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.

Why bother?

Although there is very little prospect of EDMs being debated, many attract a great deal of public interest and frequently receive media coverage.

Some EDM concerning animal welfare - for full list click HERE

4 USE OF ANIMALS TO TEST FOOD ADDITIVES

87 EU ANIMAL WELFARE

135 ANIMAL PROTECTION POLICY

137 ANIMAL TESTING OF COSMETICS

258 ANIMAL TESTING AND HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS

EU ELECTIONS 4 June 2009

The European Parliament Elections 4 June 2009 - Please think carefully before you vote and consider giving your tick on the ballot paper to the Party or Independent who has a good record in animal welfare issues.

http://www.vote4animals.org.uk/euroelection2009.htm

EMPTY JOBS FOR LOCALS CLAIM

http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/2009/030509/news030509_17.html

Camden News - by PAUL KIELTHY
Published: 5 March 2009

‘Hundreds of jobs’ pledge as work begins on £500m superlab project

AS excavators began work on the site of Europe’s largest research laboratory, the woman directing the £500million scheme promised jobs and education benefits to its Somers Town neighbours – but ruled out the social housing that activists and the council have demanded.

Contractors began “exploratory works” at Brill Place, directly behind the British Library, last week.

While the work of the consortium behind the centre in combating cancer and infectious diseases is generally recognised to be world class, the siting of the centre in the heart of Somers Town, next to King’s Cross St Pancras railway station, has caused concern since it was announced in December 2007.

Fay Gillot, programme director of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) destined for Brill Place, sought to allay fears over security.

“We’re not going to build brick walls around it; we want it to remain open,” she said. “There have to be security barriers but we don’t want them to be too heavy. It will have the feeling that this is a place you can enter.”

Ms Gillot has been given the job of driving the centre from the drawing board onto the 3.6-acre Brill Place site.

Stadium architects HOK were appointed last year but the plans are still in flux, according to Ms Gillot, who said the likeliest design would be around five storeys tall.

While there will be animal research at the lab, (my emphasis) research on primates has been ruled out.

The Brill Place site was earmarked by Camden Council for housing and office spaces, and the lab plans.

Ms Gillot said the consortium of the Wellcome Trust, Cander Research UK, UCL, and the Medical Research Council was still in talks with the council but pledged employment and educational gains.

“It should generate jobs,” she added. “First you have got the construction, then there are going to be 1,500 scientists there, and they will require catering and maintenance which will require 300-400 people. And around the area you generate an economy.”

Plans for the future of Brill Place have yet to be received by the council.(my emphasis)

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EUROPEAN CONVENTION

The UK Government signed the below Convention in March 1986, and it came into force July 2000.

Despite this the number of animals being experimented on in any given year in the UK is increasing and not decreasing as should be. The UK government has failed to honour this agreement.

http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Summaries/Html/123.htm

European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes

Summary of the treaty

The Convention is designed primarily to reduce both the number of experiments and the number of animals used for such purposes. It encourages Parties not to experiment on animals except where there is no alternative. All research into alternative methods should be encouraged. Animals to be experimented on should be selected on the basis of clearly established quantitative criteria and must be well cared for and spared avoidable suffering whenever possible.

To this end, the Convention lays down a number of principles which are to be considered only as a starting point. The Parties meet regularly to examine the application of the Convention and, if appropriate, to extend or strengthen its provisions.

PETITION

Rather strangely in my view, the government has given a response prior to a petition end date concerning the torture lab that is being proposed at Brill Place. The petition end date is 6 Jan 2010 but a response was given on 18 Feb 2009.

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page18312

We received a petition asking:

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stop the building of a virus containment facility and animal testing lab on a Camden Council house estate alongside St Pancras International in Kings Cross London UK. The backers for the lab are the MRC, UCL, CRUK and Wellcome Trust. The lab plans have been criticised by MI5, MPs and local people from the area.”

Details of Petition:

“There are plans to build a virus containment facility and animal testing lab in Camden in defiance of the council’s own planning brief calling for 50% social housing. The lab poses a very real virus leak threat similar to the Pirbright Foot & Mouth disaster. The lab will hold animals including cats and dogs which is opposed by many people. We ask that the land be sold and used to benefit the community in a compulsory purchase order.”

Read the Government’s response

This is a response in advance of the closing date from the Government.

The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) offers a unique opportunity to build one of Europe’s premier medical research facilities in partnership between the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and University College London (UCL).

The UKCMRI medical research centre will advance scientific understanding, allow the development of treatments for diseases, promote greater opportunities for training clinicians of the future, foster greater interaction and knowledge transfer between basic scientists and clinicians, develop close links with outstanding nearby hospitals and engage the public on health issues.

UKCMRI will play a vital role in the regeneration of the local area, creating jobs and boosting the economy. There will be more that 1,200 scientific jobs and over 100 people employed during the construction phase. There is already ongoing dialogue with the local community and a full community consultation will take place this spring and summer.

The Government is aware that concerns have been raised about possible use of viruses in the new facility. Compliance with biosecurity requirements will be a major consideration for the Consortium developing UKCMRI. The Consortium will be working closely with the relevant agencies, including the Health and Safety Executive, and its plans will be developed so that the facilities meet all regulatory requirements.

There are no plans to carry out research involving cats, dogs or primates at UKCMRI.

The partners will seek any necessary advice on measures relating to personnel and physical security.

___________________________________________

There are plans to carry out torture on other animals though! Yuck Yuck disgusting!

SAY NO TO THE INHUMANE(INANIMALE) NEEDLESS TORTURE AND INVASIVE PROCEDURES CARRIED OUT ON ALL ANIMALS. NOT JUST CATS DOGS AND PRIMATES.