'Serious questions to answer' after it was revealed no noise impact assessment was carried out at new Stirling prison

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and Stirling Council have “serious questions to answer” following revelations that no noise impact assessment was made at HMP/YOI Stirling, says a Stirling Green MSP.Since the start of September, residents in the area have been voicing their concerns about disruption coming from the prison – including consistent noise complaints and regular foul language being directed at members of the public, at all hours of the day.Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Angela Constance confirmed last week that no noise impact assessment was made by the Scottish Prison Service of the new design for HMP/YOI Stirling ahead of construction.This confirmation came following a question from Mid Scotland and Fife regional MSP Mark Ruskell (Greens) at General Questions in the Scottish Parliament.In his question, Mr Ruskell highlighted the ongoing noise disturbances experienced by neighbouring residents, and asked the Cabinet Secretary whether the SPS had made any assessment of potential noise impacts of the newly designed facility.In her response she said that, although statutory requirements were met, no noise assessment was conducted.She noted that a prison had been on that site for more than 15 years, and that the SPS is committed to maintaining a good relationship with its neighbours at HMP/YOI Stirling.

Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area. Mr Ruskell said later: “I am shocked and concerned that a noise impact assessment was not requested either by Stirling Council or the Scottish Prisons Service ahead of the construction of the new prison at HMP/YOI Stirling.“Whilst the new, greatly improved facility is technically on the same brownfield site as the former Cornton Vale, the configuration of the