Battle lines drawn over Wickford prison plan (From Echo)

Battle lines drawn over Wickford prison plan

12:10am Saturday 2nd May 2009 in

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A battle plan is being drawn up by the leader of Basildon Council to fight proposals to build a prison in Wickford.

Malcolm Buckley will present an emergency report to cabinet members next week.

The report has been drafted in the wake of this week’s shock announcement from the Government. It will outline how the council may be able to challenge proposals to build the jail on the site of Runwell Hospital.

Mr Buckley said although the prison, planned for the site in Runwell Road, Wickford, technically falls under the remit of Chelmsford Borough Council, the Basildon authority will be doing all it can to stop the plan.

He said: “Although technically the prison is not in the Basildon district it will have a direct impact on the people of Wickford. I don’t know if we can prevent it from happening, but we will try.

“Certainly as far as I’m concerned we have had no formal notification from the Government.

“We have been in touch with Chelmsford Borough Council who have confirmed they will be consulting us and that we will be able to make recommendations on the plans.

“Part of the recommendations will be to draw up objections.”

It was announced this week how the Wickford site has been picked for one of five new jails, each holding up to 1,500 inmates.

It had previously been considering five sites in south Essex – including Wickford, two sites in Thurrock and two in Canvey – to house a Titan prison, holding 2,500 inmates.

But plans to have three of the giant prisons around the country were scrapped by the Ministry of Justice in favour of having five smaller jails.

The site in Runwell Road, Wickford, had previously been earmarked for 624 homes, a primary school and a doctor’s surgery.

Mr Buckley will present his report at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.