Super-prison ‘would turn the area into slum’
PLAN CALLED A MONSTROSITY THAT WOULD BLOCK OUT LIGHT
A WOMAN living next to the site where a super-prison could be built has invited officials to see the impact it would have.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is appealing against Harborough District Council’s refusal to allow the jail, next to HMP Gartree.
Karen Grady said the four-storey building would loom over her garden.
She said: “I would like the inspectors (who will be making a decision on the appeal) to come to visit my house so that they can have a look at my back garden and see where the prison would be built.
“If it’s built, I am going to have no light.
“It’s going to block my sunshine – my garden will be a dark and miserable place. They need to understand the sheer scale of what would be a giant eyesore.”
Neighbour Joanne Asher said: “It’s going to be absolutely massive – it’s really not suitable for the area.
“It would be a monstrosity of a building and would turn the area surrounding the prison into an inner-city slum.”
A third resident, Sandy Bratu, said: “It’s going to be an eyesore. It’s going to decimate wildlife and destroy the countryside.
“It’s going to cause a lot of light pollution and it’s going to make the area very unsafe.”
The plans were rejected by councillors because they contradicted planning policies.
Gartree Action Group has been opposing the scheme since it was first announced.
David Hickie, from the group, said: “There are better places it could go.
“It would ruin the countryside and increase traffic on country roads which already see 1,400 cars a day due to the existing prison.
“Plus, the Harborough area has high employment. Why can’t the prison go somewhere in need of local jobs?”
The Gartree Action Group has called on people in Harborough District to help it fight the prison.
It has launched an appeal to help Lubenham Parish Council hire a barrister for the appeal. The group is hoping to raise £20,000.
The appeal hearing will take place in October.
The Ministry of Justice 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 creating 18,000 additional prison places will help to mitigate pressure on prison places in England and Wales.”