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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Anger at Cwmbran jail possibility | Anger at Cwmbran jail possibility |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Council chiefs and residents have reacted angrily to speculation that a new prison could be built in Cwmbran. | Council chiefs and residents have reacted angrily to speculation that a new prison could be built in Cwmbran. |
| It is thought the Home Office is considering building a jail to help combat overcrowding, on the site of a former police training college. | It is thought the Home Office is considering building a jail to help combat overcrowding, on the site of a former police training college. |
| The leader of Torfaen Council said the site was in the wrong place as it was in the middle of a housing estate. | The leader of Torfaen Council said the site was in the wrong place as it was in the middle of a housing estate. |
| The Home Office has refused to comment on which sites it is considering for new prisons. | The Home Office has refused to comment on which sites it is considering for new prisons. |
| Last year, the home secretary pledged to provide a further 8,000 prison places, but the chief inspector of prisons has warned the system is in "serious crisis". | Last year, the home secretary pledged to provide a further 8,000 prison places, but the chief inspector of prisons has warned the system is in "serious crisis". |
| We have enough problems in this area without creating more problems Colin Davies, residents' association | We have enough problems in this area without creating more problems Colin Davies, residents' association |
| All four Welsh jails in Swansea, Cardiff, Bridgend and Usk are overcrowded, and one solution could be to build a new prison. | All four Welsh jails in Swansea, Cardiff, Bridgend and Usk are overcrowded, and one solution could be to build a new prison. |
| But Colin Davies, the chair of the residents' association for St Dials said the former training college in Cwmbran was not a suitable site. | But Colin Davies, the chair of the residents' association for St Dials said the former training college in Cwmbran was not a suitable site. |
| "We think its the wrong area because of the built up area of houses and the children playing," he said. "I don't think there's a need to go in the middle of a housing estate on a size of this level. | "We think its the wrong area because of the built up area of houses and the children playing," he said. "I don't think there's a need to go in the middle of a housing estate on a size of this level. |
| "We have enough problems in this area without creating more problems." | "We have enough problems in this area without creating more problems." |
| The college is owned by the UK Government which will have to apply through the normal planning system to turn the site into a prison. | The college is owned by the UK Government which will have to apply through the normal planning system to turn the site into a prison. |
| There are literally tens of thousands of people living around a potential prison site Torfaen MP Paul Murphy | There are literally tens of thousands of people living around a potential prison site Torfaen MP Paul Murphy |
| Torfaen Council leader Bob Wellington said he would oppose any plans for a prison as it would jeopardise multi-million pound plans to regenerate the nearby town centre. | Torfaen Council leader Bob Wellington said he would oppose any plans for a prison as it would jeopardise multi-million pound plans to regenerate the nearby town centre. |
| "We have plans which we've been working on for years which we've spent a considerable amount of money on, which would really transform the nature of Cwmbran town centre," he said. | "We have plans which we've been working on for years which we've spent a considerable amount of money on, which would really transform the nature of Cwmbran town centre," he said. |
| "If this goes ahead, I'm advised by my officers that that will jeopardise those plans." | "If this goes ahead, I'm advised by my officers that that will jeopardise those plans." |
| Torfaen MP Paul Murphy said it would be "daft " to build a prison on the site as it was "wholly inappropriate". | Torfaen MP Paul Murphy said it would be "daft " to build a prison on the site as it was "wholly inappropriate". |
| "There are literally tens of thousands of people living around a potential prison site," he said. | "There are literally tens of thousands of people living around a potential prison site," he said. |
| 'Greatest need' | |
| Mr Murphy said it would be sensible to put a new prison in an area of high unemployment. | Mr Murphy said it would be sensible to put a new prison in an area of high unemployment. |
| "There are parts of Wales that would inevitably benefit from a prison going there in terms of jobs," he added. | "There are parts of Wales that would inevitably benefit from a prison going there in terms of jobs," he added. |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said the promised 8,000 additional places would be created by a mixture of expansions at existing prisons and by building a number of new prisons. | |
| "Decisions on location and function of the new places will be determined by greatest need. | |
| "Where possible new capacity will be provided in areas of highest demand. Specific sites are still subject to acquisition and planning consent," she added. |