Date set for hearing on super-prison plan
INSPECTOR TO CONSIDER MINISTRY APPEAL ABOUT GARTREE SITE
THE date has been set for a public inquiry which will decide whether a £300 million super-prison will be built near Market Harborough.
Proposals for the 1,700-capacity prison next to HMP Gartree were turned down by Harborough District Council last month.
Officers had recommended the plans be permitted, despite concerns about its impact on the environment, villages and traffic levels, but councillors voted unanimously against the proposal last month.
Councillor Barry Champion, chairman of the planning committee, said: “We are a plan-led committee, we follow our plans.
“Our neighbourhood plans, when they first started, we adhered to them rigidly.
“On this, it goes against so many of our local plans.”
The Ministry of Justice has appealed.
It has said: “We expect there will be an increase in demand for prison places as the activity of our courts system continues to ramp up to full operating capacity following the national restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The increasing numbers of police, in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment to recruit 20,000 additional officers, is also likely to contribute to a higher prison population, and we therefore believe that creating 18,000 additional prison places will help to mitigate pressure on prison places in England and Wales in the coming years.”
It said Gartree was suitable because of its central location and that the prison would create about 600 jobs.
The Planning Inspectorate said the appeal will begin on Tuesday, October 4 at Harborough District Council’s offices.
It will continue on October 5, 6, 7 and 10.
All previous comments made in relation to the application will be forwarded to the inspectorate, but new comments are welcome.
A five-week window to submit them opened on Wednesday.
Anyone who wishes to comment should write to The Planning Inspectorate at Room 3/26, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN.
Alternatively, people can send comments online. Quote appeal reference APP/F2415/W/22/3300227 at: