Dozens Attend Protest Meeting Over New Prison Plan

Dozens of people attended a protest meeting organised by campaigners opposed to a new ‘super prison’ being built near Market Harborough.

Almost 100 residents went along to the Congregational Church On Friday evening.

Campaigners are concerned about the impact the planned 1,700-inmate prison would have on the area.

It is earmarked for land near HMP Gartree and a public inquiry in October will determine if it can be built, after the Ministry Of Justice appealed Harborough District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission.

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien addressed the meeting, together with representatives of Parish Councils and the Action Group and Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the District Council.

Mr O’Brien spoke to HFM after the meeting:

 

Campaigners have welcomed the support of Mr O’Brien.

Francesca Broadfoot, joint chair of the Gartree Action Group, said: “We welcome Neil’s support and the political weight, knowledge and experience he will bring to our fight against this awful idea. A new prison was not in the local plan and also the Lubenham Neighbourhood Plan, and with Neil’s help we are going to investigate this further and see how this could help our case.”

The Gartree Action Group is acting on behalf of residents and local parish councils to fight the appeal.

The group says building England’s largest category B prison in such a rural setting would go against obligations to sustainable development and would create dangerous levels traffic for surrounding schools, villages and tourist attractions.

Cllr Phil Knowles spoke to HFM after the meeting: