Justice yet to be done in prison plan battle

A PROPOSAL to build a 1,500-inmate prison in Chadderton appears to have been killed off — but the row rumbles on.

There was outrage in spring after the Ministry of Justice refused to rule out land between Foxdenton Lane and Ferney Field, near to Radclyffe School and parkland, being used for a jail after it appeared on a list of 76 proposed sites.

Oldham West and Royton Labour MP Michael Meacher wanted the site removed from the list but was told no decision would be taken for about a year.

He has now received official confirmation from Marie Eagle MP, the minister responsible at the Ministry of Justice, that the Chadderton site has been deemed unsuitable.

She wrote: “During our assessment this greenfield site was quickly judged to be unsuitable for prison development. In view of this, I can say that the Foxdenton Lane site would not be considered suitable by the National Offender Management Service for development as a new prison.”

But a Ministry of Justice spokesman has refused to rule out the site — and a councillor has started a petition against it.

Mr Meacher insists a prison won’t be built there and has accused Lib Dem Councillor Mark Alcock of scaremongering.

However, Mr Alcock, who will stand against Mr Meacher at the next election, said: “It’s obvious the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. The Ministry of Justice people are saying it’s still in the evaluation.

“They are saying it’s one of the 76 sites where three prisons could be placed. I’m not saying it’s definite — I’m saying it’s a possibility.

“We are being told it’s not until April that the decision will be made. This will leave people with a short time to object. There are over 2,000 signatures on my petition. People don’t want it. It’s not the right place.”

For their part, the Tories also led strong opposition to the proposal — but in June expressed relief, saying it had been quashed after Oldham Council said it was not aware of any plans.

Campaigners say the Chadderton site is unsuitable as it is surrounded by housing and two schools and would harm the landscape and cause traffic problems.