Rayleigh MP Mark Francois, whose constituency includes Runwell on the edge of Wickford, has met with the Prisons Minister, David Hanson, to discuss the recently announced proposal by the Ministry of Justice to build a new prison on the old Runwell Hospital site.
During the meeting, at which Mark was accompanied by neighbouring MP for Maldon and East Chelmsford, John Whittingdale, Mark protested at the way in which the announcement had come completely without warning and the lack of consultation with local people, councillors and MPs.
During the discussion, which also included senior officials from the Ministry of Justice who have responsibility for the project, Mark explained the complicated history of the old Runwell Hospital site and also pointed out to the Minister that the recently completed Chelmsford Borough Council Local Development Framework (LDF) now envisaged the site being used for housing and a new local primary school, rather than a prison. Mark also used the opportunity to highlight a number of other related points, including the need to ensure the future of the Runwell Hospital Sports and Social Club and the issues surrounding potential road access to the site. Commenting after the meeting with the Minister, Mark Francois said:
“This proposal came totally out of the blue and I protested to the Minister at the lack of consultation with local people. I also raised a number of other issues surrounding the site, which Chelmsford Borough Council will need to consider before they decide whether or not to grant planning permission for the prison. This proposal has not been well handled and a I certainly told the Minister and his officials as much when we met.”