Slow response to radical jail plan

A radical design of a proposed new Inverness jail was warmly welcomed yesterday by the few who felt compelled to take a closer look.

Showcasing the £66million project, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) made the process easier on residents after they previously heeded huge public opposition to siting it near homes at Milton of Leys.

The new preferred site is on the opposite side of the A9, beside the city’s biggest retail park.

There was a low turnout for the latest public drop-in session at Inshes Church where colourful design images were warmly received, largely by local prison staff relishing the prospect of a modern replacement for the overcrowded and ageing 115-year-old Porterfield complex in the Crown area of Inverness.

Architect Trevor Strahan of BakerHicks was on hand to answer questions.

He said: “Itwas challenging because you have the security element that is paramount while at the same time creating a civic building with its own sense of place.

“It’s something the SPS can be proud. It invites the community in, so they can be part of the rehabilitation process.

“It’s a lot about re-education to stop the reoffending cycle so there’s a positive impact on the community.”

One of the few locals to pop in during the afternoon exhibition wanted to remain anonymous but described the vision as “very fancy,” although “probably more expensive” than it might have been had it been built sooner.

The new prison was first mooted in 2008 when the cost was expected to be closer to £ 40million. The designs, unveiled in yesterday’s Press and Journal, are a radical revision of previous ideas and aimed at “blending in with the local environment”.

Feedback from the dropin session will be considered by the SPS before it submits a formal planning application to Highland Council and hosts a fuller consultation.

The new facility – HMP Highland – will serve the Highlands and islands and Moray, and also feature facilities for family help and a community integration unit.