University: We WILL be testing animals
Anti-vivisection campaigners have pledged to do "everything within the law" to prevent the opening of a laboratory which will be used for experiments on primates.
Oxford University had previously claimed the £18m facility, to be built in the South Parks Road science area, would be used only to house animals, but it has now admitted it will include laboratories for animal experiments.
Cambridge University was recently forced to abandon plans to build an animal research facility following a campaign by Stop Primate Experiments at Cambridge (Speac).
The group launched a similar campaign in Oxford at the weekend. It said this could involve civil disobedience - including blocking university entrances - and would continue until Oxford dropped plans for the building, due to open at the end of 2005.
Speac spokesman Mel Broughton said: "We've successfully taken on Cambridge and now we're targeting Oxford's proposals."
Mr Broughton claimed the centre would be linked to the university's department for experimental psychology via a covered bridge. "That is significant because one floor of that building is dedicated to primate research and we have evidence of horrible experiments there," he said.
An Oxford University spokesman said: "The university respects the right of people to protest lawfully, but we won't tolerate any unlawful behaviour such as violence or intimidation.
"There will be experiments there. We will be looking to the future as we continue to reduce, refine and replace the use of animals in experiments and we hope to reach a stage when it is not necessary.
"It is not true to suggest this will replace the Cambridge lab. It has been in development for over five years and it is only for ongoing Oxford research programmes."
She added that 98 per cent of the animals used would be rodents, with the rest being primates, fish, ferrets and amphibians.
In an advertisement in the Oxford Mail, the university said animal research played a vital role in the treatment of serious health problems such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and mental illness.
The spokesman said the university had previously claimed the facility would only be used to house animals due to a "misunderstanding".
Supt Keith Ringsell, of Oxford police, said: "This is a legal, Government-sanctioned activity and as such policing will be in support of this. We are continuing to liaise with Oxford University about security on the site and are working with them to ensure minimum disruption should protests occur."