Basildon councillors back protest over new Runwell prison (From Echo)

Basildon councillors back protest over new Runwell prison

3:30pm Tuesday 13th April 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(10)

PROTESTERS against plans to build a large jail in Runwell descended on Basildon town centre to hear councillors back their fight.

Around 30 campaigners from the No Prison in Runwell action group turned up outside the Basildon Centre in St Martin’s Square, as Tory Wickford councillors put forward their official objections to the planned prison.

Ward members in Wickford North sent out leaflets to more than 5,000 homes in Wickford, asking residents whether, given the choice, they would prefer to see a jail for 1,500 inmates or 624 homes – as originally planned – on the site of the old Runwell hospital in Runwell Road.

More than 1,000 responded and said they would much prefer houses which were given outline planning permission by Chelmsford Council in 2005.

Off the back of their findings the councillors, including current Basildon Council leader Tony Ball, officially represented their objections to members of the council’s cabinet.

Mr Ball and the other Wickford North members – Michael Mowe and Carole Morris – objected to the prison on the grounds it goes against policy of developing on green belt, it will increase traffic around Wickford town centre and will badly affect plans to regenerate the town.

Mr Ball said: “Seventy per cent of people who responded to our survey were against the prison and favoured having homes as the least worse option.

“Our main objection is it would be on green belt which is contrary to planning guidance.

“I don’t believe there are special circumstances to develop on the green belt at Runwell, there are other brownfield sites in Chelmsford that would have been more appropriate.

“It will also have a detrimental effect on the highways.

“The prison is also going to be close to the area we want to regenerate and needs investment. The stigma of the jail will be detrimental to that.”

Dave Callum, spokesman for the No Prison in Runwell action group, and one of the protesters who turned up to the meeting, said campaigners were delighted to have the support of Wickford councillors.

He said: “To say we are pleased is an understatement and we hope this will hold weight with Chelmsford Council.”

The old Runwell hospital site falls into the boundaries of Chelmsford council, which is not expected to consider the planning application until late May or early June.

A motion to formally back the action group’s campaign will go before a full meeting of Basildon Council on Thursday.