THE MP for Salisbury has written to the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency over the decision to close a nursery in Porton Down. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that it will be closing Hickory House at Porton Down, which provides childcare services to employees of UKHSA and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at the site.

The UKHSA cited concerns about the level of investment that would be required to perform necessary refurbishments on the building, coupled with the “need to prioritise essential health security services.”

Now, John Glen MP has written to Dame Jenny Harries at UKHSA after his office received a "large volume" of emails, letters and telephone calls from constituents "deeply upset by the decision". 

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In his letter Mr Glen said the closure will affect "roughly 50 families" with children attending the nursery, plus 11 families with children due to start there shortly.

"Their disappointment has been intensified by the apparent lack consultation or engagement with staff before an announcement was made", he said. 

"It has been put to me that many of those affected are highly skilled and hard to replace and the onsite campus nursery has provided an important incentive to stay at Porton Down."

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Mr Glen went on to say that he has been told that, following a meeting between the families affected and Professor Isabel Oliver, the decision has been blamed on the cost of renewing the ageing buildings.

He added: "My constituents feel frustrated that UKHSA has not, to date, engaged with Dstl or science park tenants about pooling resources to retain or replace the facility.

"My constituents are anxious to ensure this provision is maintained and that if this is not possible, that alternative childcare is made available at the earliest opportunity to give families the certainty they need to be able to manage their professional and family lives."