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The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has denied a final decision has been made to abandon its research centre at Porton Down, but the leader of Wiltshire CC has given the strongest indication yet the quango could be leaving. The MJ last week reported the HPA was poised to move its renowned Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response from Porton Down after identifying a number of alternative sites for the facility, on the borders of Hertfordshire and Essex. Up to 750 local jobs in Wiltshire could be affected by any decision to leave the current site which it shares with top secret Ministry of Defence centres. MPs recently reported that many government research centres were in a dilapidated state and required upgrades. Wiltshire CC and the area's regional development agency had been working with the HPA on a business case for a £300m overhaul of local public and private research facilities. But the HPA has been simultaneously identifying possible alternative sites. Asked whether a final decision on a move had been made, a spokeswoman for the HPA said: ‘Absolutely not. No firm decision has yet been made.' However, The MJ understands senior HPA officials have submitted an application to its parent body, the Department of Health, to move the facility. Two potential HPA sites have been identified – Terlings Park in Hertfordshire, and an alternative facility at the private Glaxo SmithKline site near Harlow, Essex. Cllr Jane Scottt, leader of Wiltshire CC, said she ‘strongly believed' Porton Down was still the most appropriate location for the research centre. She added: ‘The loss of the HPA would be a severe blow to the local economy and undermine plans for a private sector-funded science park nearby. We are continuing to work with our partners to press for this facility to stay in Wiltshire, and also wish to highlight the opportunity for other government-funded scientific work to be relocated to Wiltshire, to take advantage of this cluster and help reduce the cost to the public purse.'

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WHITEHALL

Leader urges HPA not to abandon Wiltshire research facility

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