MORE than 1,000 angry residents have now signed up to a petition opposing Government plans to build a prison in Wickford.

A team of determined residents, from the Essex Against Prisons campaign group, collected signatures outside the former Woolworth’s store, High Street, Wickford.

A total of 732 shoppers signed up on Saturday. They don’t want a 1,500 inmate prison on the site of Runwell Hospital, in Runwell Road, Wickford.

This comes on top of 284 people who signed an online anti-prison petition, on the 10 Downing Street website.

Mum-of-one Bernie Bentley, 44, of Highcliffe Road, Wickford, who set up Essex Against Prisons, said: “People obviously feel really strongly about this, I would say we had at least 200 people sign our petition in the first hour.

“This is just the beginning, as we’re all taking the petitions home and will be getting more people to sign-up.

“There are so many things we need in Wickford which could be built on that site – a new care home for the elderly, a doctor’s surgery, more homes for first time buyers, or a school.

“The last thing we need is a prison.”

The proposed prison site had previously been earmarked for 624 homes, a primary school and a doctor’s surgery.

She added: “There’s also the worry about house prices. If you were looking to buy a house, would you really want to move next door to 1,500 convicted criminals.”

Basildon Council has vowed to work with neighbouring Chelmsford Council – whose ground the prison falls into and who will have to consider the planning application – to oppose the plans.

Councillors are worried developers will back away from investing in Wickford if the prison goes ahead.

The £125million Wickford masterplan, including plans for a new swimming pool, fitness centre, community centre, healthcare complex, library and 650 new homes, is already in doubt because of the recession.

Tony Ball, Basildon Council leader, said: “We are absolutely against the prison and strongly feel the building of a prison would have a bad affect on the regenaration of the town.

“The people clearly don’t want it either.”

You can sign up to the online petition at www.number10.gov.uk or look up Essex Against Prisons on the Facebook website.