Prison will be ‘flattened’ in costly revamp

HUNDREDS of inmates could be relocated as part of a multi-million pound transformation of HMP Hindley – a move which could see the prison ‘flattened and completely redeveloped.’

The Wigan prison, which currently houses 664 inmates from across Greater Manchester and the rest of the country, would be closed while extensive work is carried out to create a ‘modern’ facility.

A senior source told the M.E.N. that Hindley is expected to be ‘flattened and redeveloped.’

It’s understood that during the refurbishment, prisoners and staff would be temporarily relocated at other prisons nearby.

The plans are part of a government push to reduce overcrowding in prisons and create the right conditions for reform. It is also hoped the proposed new-build would boost the local economy by creating hundreds of construction and manufacturing jobs.

Plans for a new ‘resettlement’ prison in Greater Manchester have been in the offing since last March. Last July, the M.E.N. reported that town hall chiefs were drawing up a shortlist of sites for a new resettlement prison.

They were asked to identify suitable places for a kind of open facility for low-risk offenders from the local area designed to rehabilitate them back into the community.

Prisons minister Sam Gyimah said: “We cannot hope to reduce reoffending until we build prisons that are places of reform where hard-work and selfimprovement flourish.

“Outdated prisons, with dark corridors and cramped conditions, will not help offenders turn their back on crime – nor do they provide our professional and dedicated prison officers with the right tools or environment to do their job effectively. “This significant building programme will not only help create a modern prison estate where wholescale reform can truly take root, but will also provide a thriving, economic lifeline for the local community – creating hundreds of jobs for local people and maximising opportunities for businesses.” Hindley has been earmarked for a new development as part of the government’s commitment to build up to 10,000 modern prison places by Sam Gyimah, prisons minister 2020. It builds on ambitious reforms to improve safety in prisons, including an additional £100m to bolster frontline staff by 2,500. Final decisions on the new prison will be subject to planning approvals, as well as value for money and affordability.