New site is identified for Inverness prison
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STRATTON is likely to be the location of the new prison in Inverness.
The Courier contacted the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) earlier this week looking for an update as a previously announced six-month “pause” on their plans to replace the aging Porterfield facility drew to a close.
The plans were the source of widespread controversy when it was originally suggested a £66 million replacement could be built at Milton of Leys before Stratton, near Inverness Retail Park, emerged as a potential alternative.
Yesterday an SPS spokesman would only say that it was “still pursuing negotiations for a site that was not previously available”, but did not deny that the Stratton land was likely to be the chosen site for the new facility.
Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans also understands that Stratton is the planned site and that he would be “delighted” if it proves right.
“It’s a much more appropriate site for all sorts of reasons,” he said. “It’s not in the middle of an existing residential area and it’s got better access to facilities like the hospital if necessary.
“To be fair to the prison service I don’t believe Milton of Leys was ever their preferred option either and I’m delighted if it proves to be the case that it will be at Stratton instead.”
Mr Gowans said he understood plans are for a contemporary curved building capable of accommodating more than 200 prisoners in total, roughly double that which can be held at the Edwardian-era Porterfield in the Crown area of Inverness.
According to the SPS website it has a design capacity for 103 prisoners, but currently averages 117 inmates.
Campaign group Highlands Against Proposed Prison Location (HAPPL) led the fight when it appeared that Milton of Leys was likely to be the new prison’s chosen location and yesterday campaign leader Steve Gordon said he hopes the rumours about Stratton turn out to be true.
“The Stratton site was one of those originally identified as a green site, far more appropriate from a transport infrastructure point of view, and on that basis we hope the application, if and when it comes, is successful,” he said.
“It has been difficult to be patient at times as this has worked through, though we understand that these things take time and that both the Scottish Prison Service and Highland Council have processes that they need to go through.
“From the campaign point of view we certainly appreciate the assistance we have had from both local and national politicians on this.”
It is understood that the first stage of the process towards planning permission will be submission of a proposal of application notice (PAN).
This must be given to the council at least 12 weeks before a full planning application is submitted and includes details such as the location and a description of the potential development.
In September, as rumours of Stratton were swirling, SPS refused to discuss whether a PAN had been submitted though they did say that there had been a meeting with council planners to discuss a potential application.
A spokeswoman for Highland Council said at the time that the matter was confidential but that “the public are likely to have an opportunity to comment on the proposal” as part of SPS consultations that will have to take place over the plans.
This week Highland Council confirmed there has been no submission to the local authority as yet.
Councillor Gowans, however, said he “would not be surprised” if details are made public in the very near future.
