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Cambridge University appeals over primate centre
The University of Cambridge in the UK has appealed against the refusal of planning permission for a primate neuroscience centre that it is proposing to build on the edge of the city, on the main road to Huntingdon.
The University's original application to build a primate research centre on the site was turned down by the South Cambridgeshire District Council in 2001. A revised application, which resolved all the reasons for the refusal, was submitted later, but this was refused in February of this year on the unusual grounds that protests against the centre would be likely to cause a serious danger to public safety.
The appeal lodged by the university involves a public inquiry before a government-appointed Planning Inspector in which both parties would put their case and other interested parties could also give evidence. Given the public interest in this case, the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, will make the final decision on the basis of a report by the Planning Inspector following the inquiry.
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection wrote to Mr Prescott, saying he should not consider the application. BUAV is concerned that the Prime Minister, in his recent speech to the UK's Royal Society, indicated his support for the proposed centre and that the Deputy Prime Minister would be certain to decide in favour of the centre being built.
The public inquiry will begin on 26 November and is scheduled to last for two weeks. It is not known how long it will take for the Deputy Prime Minister to announce his decision.