News

PRISON PLANS POLEAXED

Plans to convert a former barracks in Dover into an open prison have been abandoned by Home Secretary John Reid.

Dr Reid said today (10 November) he had made the decision after hearing "powerful arguments" against the prison from campaigners. 

Families of soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan live near the barracks and their children go to school nearby. 

Dr Reid said the presence of a prison would add to their worries, which he was unwilling to do. 

The barracks has been empty since the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment pulled out of Dover in April. 

MP for Dover and Deal, Gwyn Prosser said he was delighted the plan had been dropped. 

"The prison proposals have been well and truly poleaxed as a result of Dover's excellent campaign," he said.