Government to fight against local decision to turn down 'super-prison'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The government are set to appeal against the refusal of a planning application to build a 'super prison' near Bolton. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed that it will be looking to overturn Chorley Council’s decision to reject a proposal to build a new jail just over the border in Chorley.

The proposal caused uproar amongst locals last year and residents have called for the government reveal the other locations they say they assessed as alternatives before the Chorley village site was chosen.

According to LancsLive, South Ribble MP Katherine Fletcher – in whose constituency the new jail would sit – said she was “very disappointed” that the plan was being taken to appeal.

There was uproar amongst locals last year when the proposal first emerged for the 1,715-inmate category C resettlement facility, which was to house low-risk male offenders and prepare them for their eventual release. READ MORE: CCTV images show last known movements of man, 79, now missing for four days If the jail now gets the go-ahead when the matter is considered by a planning inspector, it will nearly double the existing combined prisoner tally at Garth and Wymott – and leave the village population outnumbered by the incarcerated locked up on their doorstep.