Council say airfield prison plans must assess contamination from war plane activity

An Essex council has insisted contamination will have to be considered as part of assessments into any plans for two huge new prisons in Braintree.

That's despite requests from the Ministry of Justice to ignore this aspect.

Leader of Braintree District Council Graham Butland was speaking after concerns were raised by Alan MacKenzie, chairman of campaign group Stop Wethersfield Airfield Prisons (SWAP), into possible contamination from polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’ – from firefighting foam used during real and practice firefighting of aircraft when it was used as an airbase from the Second World War through the Cold War.

An initial geo-environmental appraisal in 2021 from the Ministry of Justice says no risks from contamination or hazardous gas were identified however, further surveys are proposed.

But after asking the MoJ for details of contamination on the site, a Freedom of Information request was refused to SWAP, on the basis that the information would affect a ‘legitimate economic interest’ and ‘could also prejudice the Ministry of Defence’s ability to achieve value for money should they choose to sell the land’.

A reply to SWAP said: “This information is commercially sensitive, and release would prejudice the authority’s negotiating position on the project.

“Release would also prejudice the authority’s negotiating position and ability to achieve value for money in future prison builds. release could also prejudice the MoD’s ability to achieve value for money should they choose to sell the land to another party.”

Leader of Braintree Council said on January 3 that even though the MoJ want to reduce the scope of the environmental impact assessment the council will insist contamination will be included in any assessment.

He said: “Contamination on the site is clearly something which this council would take very seriously.

“Those who have read the environmental statement scoping paper will see the MOJ wish to descope the area of contamination from the environmental statement.

“This council however requires that it should be considered as part of any future environmental statement to ensure more detailed work is undertaken and the impact of any contamination is carefully and fully understood.

“We also have been assured that as part of any decommissioning of the site the MOD undertake a full review and survey of the site to ensure it is cleared of specialist materials and equipment including unexploded ordnance.”

Over a year has gone by since the MoJ announced their proposed plans to build two prisons on the Wethersfield airfield site.

The proposal is for one Category B training prison and one Category C resettlement prison to accommodate around 1,700 prisoners each.

The council and local communities are still waiting on a decision whether the MoJ are going to submit a planning application for the proposals or not.

Cllr Butland added: “We know how much interest there has been amongst residents and communities around these proposals, and we absolutely value resident’s opinions and views.

“Council officers, alongside expert environmental and other consultants, have had lengthy discussions with the MoJ over the past year through a planning performance agreement, advising them on planning matters as they consider whether to submit a planning application or not.

“Throughout this time, officers have raised several issues related to the proposals that were put before us and the community, including the suitability of location, accessibility, road and environmental impacts, and have been clear through this engagement that the MoJ would need to address the issues highlighted by the council and the local community if a planning application is submitted in the future.”

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

• essex
• airfield prison