Fears for 800 West jobs as base faces relocation
Workers at the HPA site at Porton Down, near Salisbury, have been in briefings with management all week and although no formal announcement has been made to the wider world, it is understood that HPA chief executive Justin McCracken announced the plan to workers earlier this week.
Local MP Robert Key said he was told the Government had already drawn up a “preferred option” but, despite telling staff, the HPA itself remained tight-lipped about its future plans.
That preferred option would involve the Porton Down site, which is close to the more well-known defence research centres, being closed and work there being moved to Harlow in Essex.
The move would be bad news for the whole of south-east Wiltshire, with workers coming from miles around to work there.
The Conservative MP, who is standing down at the next election, said the issue was not just about jobs in his constituency and he would be demanding answers from the Government over the closure of a “world-class facility”.
He said: “This is much bigger than an accountant’s bottom line. This is a world-class facility and it should not be destroyed.
“This is about the protection of our country in the time of our need, instability in the world and about the social fabric of south Wiltshire.”
No one from the HPA would comment on the rumours of a move, but it is understood the HPA board is keen on a move to the Terlings Park science park in Harlow within five years.
A spokeswoman said she could “neither confirm nor deny” the rumours of the move.
The Porton Down site is the HPA’s national centre for “Emergency Preparedness and Response”, which covers a wide range of work drawing up plans for the nation to cope with pandemics, as well as defending Britain against bio-warfare and bio-terrorist incidents.
It was based at Porton Down as a result of the Ministry of Defence’s sites there but it is understood that the HPA is in favour of bringing the centre closer to its existing other sites in the South East.
Last night, the Unite union, which represents many of the 800 Porton Down staff, said it had “serious concerns” about the HPA’s intention to move.
Dorothy Fogg, Unite’s regional official, said: “Unite is seeking urgent talks with the Department of Health following the announcement by Justin McCraken, the chief executive officer of the Health Protection Agency, to employees at Porton Down that their work will be transferred to a new site in Essex.
“At the meeting we will express the concerns of the workforce given the devastating impact that this proposed move will have, not only on their livelihoods but the impact it will have on the local economy.”
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