Highland MSP slams suggested closure of Inverness Disease Surveillance Centre
A Highland MSP is campaigning to prevent Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) from closing a facility he believes is vital to local crofters and farmers.
Highland MSP David Stewart met this morning with Clive Davey of Prospect Union to discuss the potential closure of the Inverness Disease Surveillance Centre at Drummond Hill.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Stewart said: "This is the only facility of it’s kind in the Highlands and Islands that can carry out post-mortems on large animal carcasses.
"The centre’s reputation is second to none in it’s field.
"These are the people that are monitoring disease in the animal world to react to any emerging crisis.
"What we have at the Inverness facility are 15 highly motivated and committed staff, most of whom would be made redundant if this issue is left unchallenged.
"What it appears SRUC are suggesting is that a crofter from Skye should transport a dead cow carcass to Aberdeenshire or Perth for a post-mortem.
"How likely is that to happen? What is likely to happen is that the crofter will bury the carcass on their land and leave it at that.
"The outcome thereafter is that we lose the first class disease surveillance work carried out at Inverness and disease surveillance takes a backward step."
• An online petition is being run against the proposed closure: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/do-not-close-the-veterinary-services-disease
