Superlab protesters halt open day- But UKCRMI start work on £660 million building for medical research

Published: 28 April 2011
by DAN CARRIER

PROTESTERS fighting plans to build a massive medical laboratory in the heart of Somers Town picketed an open day at the site, forcing it to close early.

The conglomerate UKCRMI – made up of leading medical research bodies – has started work on the £660million building which will house 1,500 scientists at a site behind the British Library. The land had been earmarked for a new park and social housing. 

The project has attracted criticism over the cost, concerns about its work on deadly diseases, fears that it could be a target for extremists and protests at the use of animals in experiments. 

Campaigner Joe Doyle said that although planning permission had been granted and work was starting, the argument had not been lost.

About a dozen protesters handed out leaflets to people who came to meet archaeologists digging trenches to reveal the site’s earlier uses. 

Mr Doyle said: “How much public money is being spent on building a space that will give low rents to huge pharmaceutical companies to do their work?

“They say materials used in the labs could be extremely dangerous, yet this site is in the middle of council estates, surrounded by primary schools and three of Europe’s biggest train stations. It makes no sense.”

UKCRMI spokesman John Davidson said that despite being forced to shut earlier than planned the open day had been well attended. 

He added: “We had heard there would be a small protest. 

“We were not too concerned about it, but we did not want people to feel intimidated or face accusations by protesters, so we  decided to shut the site early. 

“In the end, it meant we had to turn away only a few people. Overall, the event was a tremendous success.”