Westminster considers Lab closure plan (From Free Press Series)

Westminster considers Lab closure plan

1:30pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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TWO Gwent politicians have joined those calling for the Forensic Science Centre in Chepstow to be saved from closure.

Jessica Morden has said it would be a "huge loss" to the area.

Ms Morden, Newport East MP, urged the Forensic Science Service (FSS) to rethink plans to close the specialist facilities during a debate in the House of Commons.

“If Chepstow were to be affected, it could result in the loss of the only forensic laboratory in Wales, which houses 170 skilled scientific jobs. Frankly, South-East Wales can ill afford to lose such high-quality jobs in science.”

The FSS wants to spread out forensic services more evenly across the UK but it will mean there will be no base in Wales. Many of the staff who work at the specialist plant have reacted with anger and confusion to the move and they pointed out the labs at Usk Road often take on work from labs in other parts of the country when they failed to meet the turnaround time.

Ms Morden echoed her constituents' sentiments and continued to question the viability of the plans.

“I know that Welsh police forces like the local knowledge that results from the site being in Chepstow and that they appreciate the ability of staff to be on site quickly when urgent work is needed. Such services would be affected if the changes went ahead.”

She asked whether the changes would simply result in the criminal justice system getting worse and the service eventually costing more?

William Graham, South Wales East AM, said he believed the laboratory should be saved, not just for Chepstow but for Wales.

He said: "It is vital that cutting edge lab work is encouraged not stifled as we need to ensure that the Welsh economy is competitive as we emerge from this recession."

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