MoJ Spent £255,000 Fighting For Right To Build Prison Near Market Harborough

The Ministry Of Justice spent over a quarter of a million pounds fighting for the right to build a massive new prison near Market Harborough.

A Freedom Information request by campaigners from Gartree Action Group has revealed the government department paid out £255,000 on external lawyers to represent it at a Public Inquiry last month.

That was in sharp contrast to the £23,000 raised by group, who are campaigning against the jail, to fund their own legal representation at the hearing.

John March from Gumley is a member of Gartree Action and spoke to HFM:

Campaigners gathered outside the Symington Building during last month’s hearing

The £300m prison, which would house 1,700 male inmates, is earmarked for land near HMP Gartree and was refused permission by Harborough District Council last year.

The Planning Inspector who chaired the Inquiry is due to make a recommendation by early 2023 on whether that decision should be overturned.