HMP Gartree: Residents unhappy at approval of 'super prison'

The Ministry of Justice said the prison would help the government achieve 20,000 extra prisoner places

Residents close to where a new "super prison" will be built in Leicestershire have been left "raging" after plans were approved by the government.

The 1,700-capacity jail, adjacent to HMP Gartree, has been given the go-ahead, despite it being rejected by Harborough District Council.

The council's refusal was overturned following a government appeal to Communities Secretary Michael Gove.

Residents said the decision to approve the prison had "disrespected" them.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the new Category B jail, near Market Harborough, was needed in order to combat increasing inmate numbers.

Plans for the prison, which would see workshops, a kitchen, dog kennels and a car park for more than 500 cars built, were first submitted in September 2021.

Harborough District Council rejected the scheme last year on the grounds the plan was "ill-thought out", unsustainable and would harm the countryside.

The MoJ appealed and the Planning Inspectorate - the government body tasked with ruling on planning disagreements - held a series of hearings.

Mr Gove was then given this evidence and signed off on the scheme on Wednesday.

Resident Charlotta Hickie said overturning the council's decision was "unfair"

David and Charlotta Hickie, of nearby Foxton, are members of the Gartree Action campaign group and said the project would negatively impact the countryside.

"It's absolutely huge," Mr Hickie said. "It's the size of over a dozen football pitches and we're in the middle of the countryside. It's a blight for the local community."

Mrs Hickie added: "I am absolutely raging. People here have worked tirelessly to express how unfair this is."

Kevin Bowden's house backs on to land where the prison will be built.

He said: "My concern is that when I get up in the mornings and open my curtains, I'm not going to see the fields behind me with the sheep and wildlife. I'm just going to see a wall of prison."

Kevin Bowden has lived by land where the prison will be built for 20 years

Meanwhile, Diana Cook - chairperson of Lubenham Parish Council and member of Gartree Action - raised concerns about potential staffing issues when the prison opens.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The government has disrespected our community and given us something which we don't want and don't need and isn't the answer to rehabilitating criminals.

"They won't be able to staff it because they can't get enough workers for the existing prison. This is a bad decision."

The MoJ said the new prison would provide a recruitment "boost" in the area.

A statement added: "[The] decision at Gartree is critical to delivering the 20,000 extra places we need to keep dangerous offenders off the streets and will boost the local economy by creating hundreds of new jobs."