THE SITE for a new £10 million science park at Winchester has been given a complete clean bill of health following final tests for contamination.

Extensive examinations of soil samples from Morn Hill have confirmed that there are no traces of deadly anthrax or other toxic materials.

Fears over the safety of the site were raised earlier this year when it was revealed that cattle with anthrax had been disposed of in the 1940s when the land was occupied by a former knacker's yard.

Communications giant, NTL, which has been granted planning permission for the new development, is now pressing full steam ahead with the preparation and foundation works at the site.

"Last week a larger area than originally identified was tested and declared completely clean of any contamination," said NTL spokesman Bruce Randall.

"There is absolutely no question of any anthrax contamination. That has been dismissed completely now.

"Under agreement with the Environment Agency and Winchester City Environmental Health soil with minor contamination, such as oil or metal, from the former scrapyard has been removed to a licensed tip," he added.

Over recent weeks contractors have been clearing the site and have constructed a new junction and site access road. Work on perimeter landscaping and the erection of fencing has also been completed.

Later this month the company plans to seek bids from contractors for phase two of the scheme, which will involve the erection of 21 satellite dishes for a new teleport at the site.

"We expect to start work on the erection of the satellite dishes by the end of the year and it should be completed by the end of June next year," added Mr Randall.

"There is a lot of preparation work involved as the foundations for the dishes have to be very solid."

Major work is now under way with laying multi-utility cables along Alresford Road to serve the science park. Next week contractors will start installing cables from North Walls, in the city centre, to Morn Hill.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.