Mega prison consultation in Essex not "fit for purpose"
Campaigners say it shouldn't be accepted as evidence of community involvement
Campaigners against two mega prisons proposed to be built on a former cold war airforce base in Essex say the Government’s consultation is not “fit for purpose”.
And a new position at Wethersfield Parish Council has been set up to fight the Ministry of Justice Plans to build the prison development on Wethersfield Airbase.
A MoJ consultation document says the jails – a category B local and training prison, and a category C, training and resettlement prison – would meet “anticipated demand” both nationally and in southern England.
They would each have capacity for 1,715 inmates, with 240 housed in four-floor blocks.
The area has been noted for its ecological importance which campaigners would be undermined by the development, while the airfield is poorly connected by a series of B roads to the A120.
The MoJ say the 20 page consultation document, which will determine whether any planning application might be submitted, already goes beyond what is required.
But planning campaigner Rosie Pearson, a member of Stop Wethersfield Airfield Prisons (SWAP), has said Braintree District Council should argue to the Ministry of Justice that their public consultation this autumn was not fit for purpose and will not be accepted as proof of community involvement.
She told a council meeting on Monday night (December 13): “This consultation also breaches principle 2, of the Gunning Principles, recognised in case law that requires sufficient information for consultees to give an intelligent consideration and to provide an informed response.
“In fact, there was so little information available that it was impossible to submit a considered response. Much relevant data, such as traffic modelling, is available for other prisons – that should have been made available in the consultation.
“And the Ministry of Justice has stated in its own scoping request that it has completed numerous reports. Those should also have been made available.
“Will the council write to the MoJ saying that in the first instance it has reviewed its own local evidence base and considers that the site is not suitable?
“And, in the second instance, will the council tell the MoJ that if a planning application is submitted, the consultation was inadequate and will not be accepted as evidence of community involvement?”
Graham Butland, leader of Braintree District Council, said at the meeting: “There has been no public consultation on any planning application because there has been no planning application.
“All I would say is that together with my district council colleagues Councillor Peter Tattersley and Councillor Vanessa Santomauro we have regularly attended all the parish councils that are in the area and we know very well the strength of feeling of those parish councils.
“We have also advised that should a planning application be put forward and wish to be opposed it will need to be on planning grounds.
“That is the only successful way in which a planning application can be defeated.
“It has to be from the head and not the heart.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We want to work closely with Braintree residents before submitting a planning application, which is why we consulted widely and held online and in person information sessions.
“We are now considering the responses and Braintree District Council will hold its own consultation if a planning application is submitted.”