The cabinet met yesterday to discuss proposals for a new 5-storey prison in the Bucks countryside.
The plans would expand the current site at HMP Spring Hill, near Grendon Underwood, on land already owned by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), housing around 1,400 inmates when full.
But Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet members were in broad agreement that the proposed facility was the wrong scheme in the wrong place.
Concerns included:
- the impact on the environment, with members noting the light pollution on wildlife in the local area;
- the impact on local residents, living a stones throw from the suggested site.
- the ugly nature of the building, positioned on top of a hill making it an eyesore;
- the poor connectivity in the local area;
- the area is already prone to flooding, with a 500 space car park potentially making that worse;
- the locality is already being impacted by HS2 and East West Rail and residents can't be expected to deal with any more disruption.
With those points in mind, the cabinet approved sending a letter to the MOJ consultation, opposing the plans.
But that's not the end of the story. Council leader, Martin Tett said he still expected the MOJ to seek planning permission. It was noted that although the objection will be registered at consultation stage, it is the job of Bucks Council, as the planning authority, to consider any future applications in an independent way.
More details on the plans can be found here
Members of the public can also have their say and take part in the consultation, which ends on Friday 29th January.
The link to take part in the consultation can be found on the MOJ website
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