Go-ahead for superprison
Wednesday 28th January 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
A superprison for 1,620 inmates will be built near Wolverhampton after the controversial plans were agreed.
The new Category B, medium security jail will be built next to Featherstone Prison and Brinsford Young Offenders Institution off New Road, bringing 1,200 jobs.
Despite more than 400 objections, South Staffordshire Council’s regulatory committee last night overwhelmingly approved the outline application by the Ministry of Justice.
Twenty-three councillors voted in favour of the new jail compared to eight who recommended refusal.
Five sports pitches, an 800-space car park, five ancilliary buildings and a security fence surrounding the site will also be built.
Kinver councillor Brian Edwards, who supported the plans, said: “Over 1,000 jobs will be created if the prison is built and the jobs will be sought locally.”
Councillor Michael Hampson, who represents Brewood & Coven, was also in agreement. “The prison will have far less of an impact on the local area than I first thought,” he said.
Objectors included Shareshill councillor Bob Cope who highlighted the concerns of residents, adding: “This prison is simply too big and will have an impact on traffic.”
Only two of the three x-shaped accommodation blocks will be built by January 2012, catering for 1,140 prisoners, because of a shortage of funding.
The Ministry of Justice say the third block will follow when cash is available. Part of the land is currently sports pitches for the existing prison and the rest is part of the former Royal Ordnance factory site.
The Ministry claims the jail is needed because of a growing prison population.
The plans will now be referred to the Government Office for the West Midlands for final approval.
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Good we need more prison space with all of the idiots around here!
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Hooray,
Isn’t it about time that the government realised that they have been badly letting down the lawabiding citizens of the country down by there lax view on punishing criminals.
So many people will complain that they dont want this built on “their doorstep” but I for one, think this is terrific news. Just think of all of the jobs this will create. This is a boost that will affect the economies of all of the surrounding areas.
Lets all hope that the courts start dishing out proper punishments, not a mere slap on th wrist for offenders.
The first inmate out to be Gordon “Bagpuss” Brown and Alister “how can we trust somebody whose carpet and curtains don’t match?” Darling. The way they are abusing the country is absolutely criminal!
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One down, at least another 30 to go to house all people who break the law. No more cautions, just prison sentences is the way to stop crime.
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Who is going to run it? Thomsons, Going Places or the co-op? They are more like holiday camps than prisons. No Televisions, no gyms, 4 to cell and no privileges they might just not want to go back. Ok dream on, I vote Thomsons Sun to run it I have had some great holidays with them.
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they can get XL AIRWAYS to run ….holiday to no were there are about as good as each other…con’s
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We do need more prisons, there’s too many criminals getting off due to the lack of prison space. However, I wholly agree that they are just not tough enough, once experienced you should never, ever want to go back, they should be the most grim, and horrible places, not holiday camps. Take a look at America’s prisons, Britain is a joke.
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Oh come on we are in the 21st century. We treat terrorists with kid gloves in guantanamo bay so why punish our own criminals at the cost of the tax payer. Give them all a holiday in spain all expenses paid,after that it costs us nothing ha !!!!!!!!!
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every prison is differant,but these two in the article really are a joke beleive me on this bit,they never used to be blame the cushy jails on the eu and human rights groups they all set out certain criteria for us to follow with regards to the care of prisoners and never once is the victim mentioned GREAT BRITAIN FOR YOU !!
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why not bring bck death sentance and send foreign prisnors bck home then the “ever growing prison population” would shrink rapidley and save this country many millions.(yes i know never gonna happen in this soft approached country)
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well i for one agree that we need more prisons but the right people to be jailed.The courts jail people for silly things then let people of for the major things so the justice system as awhole needs to change.
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this is all very well, but I wonder how many people have given a thought to the environmental impact on the wildlife as discussed and outlined on the midlands heritage forum?
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