Plans Abandoned For Open Prison

Plans to turn the former Connaught Barracks in Dover into an open prison have been abandoned.

Home Secretary John Reid confirmed today (Friday) that his department was no longer looking at housing prisoners at Connaught Barracks. Mr Reid said it was the bitter campaign against the move which had convinced him to abandon the idea.

A petition signed by 15,000 people was presented to prisons minister Gerry Sutcliffe when he visited the town and a demonstration was held outside the barracks when Mr Sutcliffe visited the site.

"I think it was the worries of the families nearby of those serving abroad, plus children from military families, who attend the nearby Duke of York's Royal Military School that were very powerful influential factors," said Dover MP Gwyn Prosser.

He paid tribute to everyone involved in the campaign against the prison.

"We all know that the pressure on the Government to provide additional prison capacity has been exceptional and that Connaught Barracks offered the home secretary a quick fix.

"It was only the strength of our arguments as articulated by all the political parties and local people that made ministers think again."