Home » Bulletin 2006
Work restarts on Oxford animal facility
After a long suspension, Oxford University announced that building work has restarted on their new central animal facility
Work was halted in July 2004 after a series of threats were made to Montpellier, the contractors working on the buildings. Tactics included sending threatening letters to shareholders, attacking directors’ cars and threatening to publish a list of investors on the internet.
In November 2004, a website listing the home addresses and phone numbers of university staff and government ministers was removed from the internet after protests by the university. The university was also successful in winning an injunction stopping protestors gathering outside and intimidating staff.
Understandably, the university is not saying who has taken over the work, nor will it discuss a date for its completion. University registrar David Holmes said: "The university remains firmly committed to the completion of this building which is part of an ongoing programme of replacing and updating existing laboratory space. The new biomedical research building will provide world-class facilities, reflecting the university’s commitment to animal welfare and to scientific progress."
"Completing the project will be good for animal welfare, good for medical research and good for the treatment of life-threatening conditions all over the world."