Decision delayed on controversial super prison near Harborough

A decision on a controversial super prison near Market Harborough is set to be delayed.

The Government says new material has been submitted by Harborough MP Neil O’Brien to the Secretary of State Michael Gove who was set to make a final decision on the site.

Plans to build a new £300million prison, the size of 13 football pitches, next to HMP Gartree were unanimously thrown out by Harborough District Council last April. But a public inquiry was held in the autumn after the Ministry of Justice appealed the decision.

A Harborough District Council spokeswoman said that the decision on the planning appeal will now be made or before May 15, and not by April 5 as previous notified.

Neil O’Brien MP raised fresh concerns with Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, citing three issues of concern regarding bus provision, prisoner numbers and prison staffing.

The Harborough MP said: “Since the inquiry last year, the future of the only bus route serving HMP Gartree has been thrown into doubt following a review currently being undertaken by Leicestershire County Council. If this prison was to be given the go-ahead, it could potentially mean that it will not be served by any form of public transportation. Given that the roads surrounding the site are not suitable for large increases in traffic volumes, this could cause a significant problem. This is something that the Secretary of State needs to know about.

“The other area of concern is staffing numbers at the current HMP Gartree. This is something the brilliant local campaign group Gartree Action has raised the alarm about. In February there were 55 vacancies, which represents 16 per cent of the entire workforce, and the vacancy rate is increasing. If there are troubles filling current vacancies, questions must be asked about whether this is the right site. City centre locations might not have the same problem, as Harborough is sadly an expensive place to rent or buy a house.

“I am pleased that the Secretary of State is looking at this new evidence and taking it seriously and I hope that this leads to him rejecting the Ministry of Justice appeal. We have certainly left no stone unturned."

Cllr Paul Bremner, who represents Lubenham on Harborough District Council, and has been a campaigner on the prison, added: “I have been clear throughout this whole process that proper scrutiny of these plans should take place. I only hope that common sense will now prevail.”

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Phil Knowles, a long-standing campaigner fighting the prison plans, has invited various Secretaries of State to the site of the proposed super prison - and has extended another invitation to Michael Gove.

In a letter to Mr Gove, in which he outlines his objections to the plans, Cllr Knowles said: "There is a very old saying that 'an ounce of seeing is worth a ton of telling''. I would urge you to take time to come here, see the site for yourself and see at first hand that this site for the suggested super prison is wrong on so many fronts and should be refused."