Council leader re-issues invitation to Secretary of State to visit site of proposed prison extension

The Leader of Harborough District Council has written to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities following the postponement of the decision on the Gartree Prison Extension appeal announced yesterday (Wednesday 8 November 2023).

In his letter to The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Cllr Knowles, leader of the council, writes: “I still contend that the site under consideration is the wrong site for this development. It was wrong when first put forward and is still wrong now. The planning committee refused the application and the arguments against this super prison on this site have been well presented.

“Secretary of State I wish to reissue my personal invitation to you to come here to Market Harborough and to see this site for yourself. The constraints and concerns, the village roads, local school and the difficult support structure such as distances, accessibility and services to the railway station. Such an important facility to those who will have to plan visits to the prison. I'm sure that once you see the site for yourself it will help you to conclude that this is not the site that should be used and to look elsewhere in the country for this super prison.”

A decision from the Secretary of State is now expected on or before Thursday 7 December 2023.