AN APPEAL is being made to new prime minister Keir Starmer to reconsider plans for a massive new prison just 12 miles from Lutterworth.
Leader of Market Harborough District Council Phil Knowles has written to Downing Street urging Sir Keir to call in the decision to build a new prison at Gartree, next to the existing one.
The new 1,700-capacity jail known as Gartree Two was given the go-ahead in November by the former government despite being turned down by Harborough District Council.
Coun Knowles wrote: “Whilst we understand the figures and comments on prison places, I would contest that any new prison must be built in the right places.
“Here in Harborough district, we already have Gartree Prison. The Ministry of Justice decided to apply for Gartree Two, a huge new prison to sit alongside the current facility.
“The planning committee of this authority refused the planning application. The matter then being taken to an inspector. The planning inspector sat here in Harborough for many days. Listening to submissions, acknowledging petitions and more. At the end of this process the inspector supported the decision of the council agreeing that planning permission should not be granted.
“The Secretary of State then gave consideration to the decision. I invited those holding that post to visit to see the site and area before making any determination. All ignored the invitation.
“Eventually and acknowledging the decision of the planning committee to refuse and the
planning inspector indicating agreement with that refusal Mr Gove gave the permission to
proceed.”
Coun Knowles asked the prime minister to consider if Gartree Two was value for money, was ‘logical’ for it to be situated in Gartree, and if infrastructure in the area could cope?
Since becoming prime minister, Sir Keir has already labelled the prison service as ‘broken’ and wants to reduce the number of people going to prison through renewed efforts to cut reoffending.
Opened in 1965, the original HM Prison Gartree is a Category B men’s prison, which houses over 700 prisoners. Notable ex-inmates include Reggie Kray, Charles Bronson, Fred West and Ian Brady.
