Councillors Defer Decision On ‘Rushed’ Final Prison Plans
Councillors tonight decided to defer Wrexham’s Super Prison’s reserve matters decisions until further information can be supplied.
Members of Wrexham’s Planning Committee rejected the finer details put forward for the £250million development on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, calling the report ‘inconsistent’ and ‘rushed’.
The prison itself will still be built, however the finer detail of how it will be built is therefore still not finalised.
Initially the report that went before the committee tonight was listed to approve the reserve matters submitted by Lend Lease. However the report was slammed by Chairman Michael Morris who said he had seen ‘residential house applications of better standard’, adding that the report presented to the committee left ‘a lot to be desired’
Cllr Morris said: “The general feeling is what is the point, they could do cartwheels around this Council Chamber and it wouldn’t change the recommendations.
“To me the whole thing has been rushed again to get it out of the way and I can understand to some extent why that’s happening. We need to be sure that what we are getting it what is acceptable.
“I am very disappointed considering we had 23 conditions and now we are finding at least ten of those conditions are not being satisfied.”
“This is not about the principal of the prison, it’s the finer detail and if they can’t get their act together in six months, it doesn’t bode well for the future in my view.”
Outline planning approval for the Super Prison itself was passed by councillors earlier this year, with the committee reminded that tonight’s meeting wasn’t ‘D-Day’ for the actual building of a prison as referred to in some (not us!) local media was in fact six months ago.
The report presented to Councillors tonight focused on the ‘finer detail’, with the application seeking approval for ‘the matters that were reserved for subsequent approval namely the layout and appearance of the buildings and the landscaping of the site’.
Several issues were raised throughout the meeting regarding the report, with another councillor describing the reserve matters put before them as a ‘mish-mash’, however many spoke of their concern of the lack of detail in the report.
Councillor David Griffiths said: “If it’s unknown how can I make a conscious decision on what’s best for Wrexham. In its present form I can’t vote for this. We either say no or we send it back to them.”
Cllr Griffiths’ statement was echoed by Cllr David Kelly, who added: “It is the mish-mash and trying to get an understanding of where they are compliant and where they are yet to give us further details.
“There really needs to be a staged approach to this. Looking at the way they are performing up until now, I’d have a great concern if they are going to do anything in the time scale.”
However Head of Community Well-being and Development, Lawrence Isted commended the recommendations put forward in this evening’s report, stating that often plans change during the building process.
Mr Isted said: “It is difficult to front load all of these details when many would have to be changed. What they have submitted is strategic plans, and I am happy with the strategy they are using.”
The proposed parking for the prison also came under fire, with Councillor Mike Edwards stating that 422 parking spaces was not adequate for a prison of this scale.
Cllr Graham Rogers added: “There is only going to be 103 spaces allowed for visitors. I firmly believe whoever is involved in putting these reports together are treating us with contempt.”
Councillor Ronnie Prince also spoke of his concerns regarding the proposed number of parking spaces, adding: “There are too many unknowns to this application and we need to get this infrastructure right.
“Parking isn’t realistic enough, people will not get the bus to the prison. Not all the prisoners are going to be from Wrexham. I believe people will travel in car. I cannot support the application tonight.”
However Mr Isted said: “At the risk of sounding factious, the inmates won’t have parking.
“Proposals include new bus stops and proposals to include public transport. A pattern of usage in other areas suggests this is a suitable amount of parking.”
This comment was rejected by Cllr Kelly who said: “If they have built prisons like this before, then surely they should be able to submit an application in a professional way?”
A recommendation to defer the proposals until further information was put forward to councillors, who voted in favour of the motion by fifteen to three.
Our live tweets from the evening are below….
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