Wildlife body criticises lab cuts

Researchers and technical staff will be affected by the cuts

The government's own advisers on nature conservation have hit out at plans to shut global warming research centres.

Four Centre for Ecology and Hydrology laboratories have been earmarked for closure by parent group the Natural Environment Research Council (Nerc).

A third of the centre's 600 staff could lose their jobs at sites at Winfrith in Dorset, Oxford, Banchory in Scotland and Monk's Wood in Cambridgeshire.

English Nature has said it has "major concerns" over the scale of the cuts.

'Deeply concerned'

The independent agency that advises the government on wildlife and nature conservation has written to Nerc as part of formal consultation on the controversial plans.

It said: "English Nature is deeply concerned at the proposal to reduce the capacity of the centre, by the loss of staff and through station closures.

"This seems inappropriate at a time when the outcomes of research are needed to inform key concerns such as climate change, biodiversity, conservation and environmental pollution.

"We look for assurances that this will not adversely affect its ability to deliver environmental research in the UK."

'High-quality research'

The job cuts at the centre - which offers independent advice on a range of environmental issues, including climate change - would affect researchers and technical and administrative staff.

Four remaining sites - in Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster and Wallingford - will become the focus of the centre's work following the closures.

Its administrative headquarters will move from Swindon to Wallingford, Oxfordshire, if the plans go ahead.

Nerc insists the restructuring would enable it "to continue to deliver high quality research and environmental advice".