SECURITY could be compromised if research facilities are moved from Porton Down to Essex, the union Unite has warned.

The Health Protection Agency has submitted an outline business case to the government to transfer most of the CEPR – the centre for research into bio-terrorism and deadly diseases – to a science park at Harlow. Only 120 jobs would be left at Porton.

The HPA says running costs there are extremely high because of the age of the buildings.

But the union said the GSK New Frontiers Science Park is bounded by a main road that staff will have to cross from the car park, while high containment laboratories will be relatively close to the perimeter. Business units surround the site on two sides.

It warned: “The introduction of dangerous pathogens in an urban environment, and the development of the supporting biological investigation services may attract local community concerns and possible wider disruptive measures.”

Its health spokesman David Fleming said: “The Porton Down site is very remote and has a high level of security. There must be a question mark over having such a centre right next to a main road in Harlow.

“We are also concerned that such a move could lead to the break-up of a world-class scientific and research team who may be attracted by the higher salaries in the Cambridge – M11 – London corridor.

“The proposal is hastily constructed and flawed and needs to be rethought. There is a great risk that the GSK Harlow option will not provide the facilities required and is not accurately costed.”