Protesters Target Site of ‘Wrexham Super Prison’

A protest taking ‘active opposition’ to the construction of the ‘Wrexham Super Prison’ is currently taking place on the former Firestone Site on the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Reports of a protest outside the site of the Wrexham Super Prison began circulating earlier this morning – with protesters seen outside the construction site shortly after 10am this morning.

It is believed the protest involves a group titled ‘Reclaim the Fields’ who were seen outside the Firestone site this morning holding signs saying ‘Gardens not Prisons’ and ‘Fire to the Prisons’.

‘Diggerarm’ on Twitter told Wrexham.com: “Protesters at the site entrances of the new prison, roads closed and police there”. Another told us that is appears there are around 5 protesters at the site.

Picture – Tracy Bustin

Other have said that the road is blocked and traffic is having issues not only entering the site of the prison, but also to other buildings / businesses nearby.

The protest is part of the ‘active opposition’ to the Wrexham Super Prison, which when complete will house over 2000 category c inmates. A tweet sent out by the ‘Gardens not Prison’s Twitter account on August 18th states the group states: “Reclaim the Fields Action Camp 2015 “BUILD GARDENS, NOT PRISONS” coming soon to Wrexham, north Wales (28 Aug – 2 Sep)”

Reclaim the Fields Action Camp 2015 “BUILD GARDENS, NOT PRISONS” coming soon to Wrexham, north Wales (28 Aug – 2 Sep) pic.twitter.com/KMBQ1OiJqi

— Gardens not Prisons (@gardensnotcages) August 18, 2015

A statement on the Reclaim the Fields website reads: “Every two years there is also an international camp, where people from around Europe and beyond meet together to support a local struggle (from gold mining in Romania to open cast coal mining in Germany, for example). People share share stories and ideas about resistance and reclaiming our food system beyond national borders. This year, an international gathering will be held in in Wrexham, Wales.

“The aims of the camp are:

• To support local communities in the west and north west of England, and the north of Wales with their struggles against fracking
• To increase participation in Reclaim the Fields
• To demonstrate visible, active opposition to prison construction
• To support Borras Community Protection Camp build a garden and infrastructure to become more self-reliant
• To demonstrate the interconnection between these struggles
• To inspire and radicalise everyone involved”Further information the the Reclaim the Fields website notes why they oppose the development of the Wrexham Prison, with comments on their website stating: “We are told that safety of all kinds, including economic security, can be guaranteed by watching, controlling and caging the groups of people who suffer most because of poverty, racism or other forms of oppression. Within Reclaim the Fields we reject this myth and work to create a world where humans are no longer kept in cages.”

Supt Alex Goss said “North Wales Police are aware a group of protesters have converged close to the site of the proposed new prison build near Wrexham. We have a responsibility to allow peaceful protest and to maintain public order to ensure public safety and uphold the law.

“As such we are monitoring the situation and are in contact with all parties concerned and at this time the protest is being policed proportionately and appropriately.”

*Thanks to Matty Gavan for sending us the image featured above!