Super-jail plan worry for town

07 December 2007

PLANS for a super-jail in Rainham have resurfaced after the Government pledged to build three huge prisons to deal with overcrowding.

Some £1.2billon is to be set aside in a bid to deal with the growing prison population, which hit 81,000 recently.

News of a possible 1,500-capacity, 25-acre Category B prison hit Havering after Home Office ministers expressed an interest in the Beam Reach Business Park - an area in Rainham earmarked for commercial development and regeneration.

The threat resulted in a march - the biggest ever seen in Havering - against the proposal. Organised by community leaders, around 6,000 people took to the streets of Rainham, banners held high, in a bid to deter the proposal from gathering pace.

The idea of a jail coming to the area was slammed by MPs, the council, the Mayor of London and the community at large.

Justice Minister Jack Straw this week revealed the Government plans to build three large 'Titan' prisons, one of them in London. Each will hold 2,500 inmates over 60 acres - nearly three times the size of the jail previously proposed for Rainham.

Also proposed is a 200-cell prison ship and a mini-jail for 500 prisoners at a defunct RAF base at Coltishall, Norfolk. Wandsworth prison, currently Britain's largest, is also to be extended.

The news has got people worried, including Hornchurch MP James Brokenshire and Rainham & Wennington councillor Jeff Tucker.

Said Mr Brokenshire: "Until we get a clear statement of what the Government wants to do, this dark cloud will continue to hover over Rainham and plans to regenerate an area of the borough which is in urgent need of investment."

Cllr Tucker responded to the situation by heralding another march should Rainham be bought into the frame for a super prison.

He added: "If anything fundamental comes up with regard to the prison being built in Rainham, then we will be ready for them. But after the last march we did it appears they took a step back.