Prison for 1,500 in Wickford

From: jackie
Date: 13 November 2009

Comments

i couldnt make the meeting at runwell hall, but intend to go to the one at the wickford community centre.
wondered if anyone could let us know what was said at runwell hall, so we can be ready for the petty excuses!

Comment from Wickford Action Group

WAG members have been to the display at Runwell and asked some searching questions.

The Prison will be for 'B' and 'C' category prisoners, it will be on the same footprint as Runwell Hospital, so no loss of green belt.

The site is 'ideal' for a prison and will be one of five new ones built in Britain and managed by a private firm.

This site was originally designated for 624 houses and we are trying to get assurances that the prison will be instead of and not as well as. This is a key issue from our point of view.

One problem for us is that it comes under Chelmsford Borough Council and not Basildon, so we will have very little say and in our view will be built anyway..

(Wickford Action Group)