Prison chiefs to explain Ashfield change
Agreement to councillor demands for public meeting tomorrow
Prison chiefs have agreed to attend a public meeting on Wednesday 20th February to explain plans to convert Ashfield Young Offenders Institute in Pucklechurch into an adult prison, after receiving an invitation from the village’s local councillors.
Immediately after the announcement, Pucklechurch’s South Gloucestershire Conservative councillors Steve Reade and Ben Stokes wrote to Michael Spurr, the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), asking that the local community be provided with an opportunity to find out more about this major change.
In a reply letter to the councillors, NOMS have confirmed that they will attend the next meeting of Pucklechurch Parish Council at 7.30pm on Wednesday 20th February at the Community Centre.
NOMS went on to explain in their reply that negotiations have begun with Serco Group plc, the contractors who manage and operate the establishment, about the use of the site for adult male Category C prisoners
Welcoming the news, Boyd Valley ward Cllrs Reade and Stokes, who have been carrying out a survey of the village, said:
"Like so many local residents, we were very concerned about the manner in which this announcement was made and whether this is a proposal that is subject to change or a decision that we're all simply being informed of.
We immediately wrote to the National Offender Management Service to ask that an opportunity be provided for people to find out more how this change will affect Ashfield, its staff and the surrounding community.
Many of the residents who responded to our survey wanted to find out more and so we are pleased that senior government officials have agreed to our request for a public meeting and we would encourage members of the community to attend.”