West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper is reassuring any local residents still concerned that there are ‘no plans for a prison in Scarisbrick’.

Rosie secured the written commitment from Justice Secretary Jack Straw in a letter from his department and through an answer to a Parliamentary Question. Since Scarisbrick was revealed to have been on an early list of potential sites for so-called ‘Titan’ prisons drawn up last year, Rosie has been campaigning for absolute assurances from the Ministry of Justice that there are no plans to build a prison on the Southport Road site.

MP Rosie said:

“Jack Straw has confirmed to me, both in writing and through a Parliamentary Question, that the site was considered ‘not suitable for development’. He went on to say categorically that there are no plans to build a prison in Scarisbrick."

“I have sought further commitments and we’ve got as close as you ever can to being assured that it will never happen. I want to reassure all residents in the area that this means there will be no prison in Scarisbrick. I am grateful to hear this and I am sure Scarisbrick residents will be to. I have written to all constituents in the area already to reassure them about the situation but now I have this written confirmation I will be writing to local residents again."

“Let me be clear - I would oppose any plans to build a prison on this site.“

In his answer to Rosie’s parliamentary question, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said:

“The site at Scarisbrick was one of a number of sites brought to the attention of the National Offender Management Service as part of the site search exercise for ‘Titan’ prisons to hold 2,500 prisoners. It was assessed, but not considered suitable for development as a Titan. There are, therefore, no plans for a prison at Scarisbrick.” Click on the image to the right to view the newsletter sent out across Scarisbrick informing residents of the assurances from Jack Straw.