West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper moved quickly this week to squash fears that Scarisbrick may be used as a location for a new prison.

Rosie used parliamentary question time with the Justice Secretary Jack Straw to raise the issue asking:

“Will the Secretary of State reaffirm what he said in his answer to me on the 21st July, which is that there will be no prison, Titan or any other size of prison in Scarisbrick? Will he also confirm that in writing for the benefit of Tory Councillors, colleagues of the opposition, who seem not to be able to believe in the record according to Hansard?”

Mr Straw replied that there will be no prison in Scarisbrick and agreed to confirm this in writing.

Rosie Said afterwards: “I am sure that, once and for all, this latest announcement from the Justice Secretary will provide the necessary assurance to residents of Scarisbrick that there will be no prison site in their village. I can absolutely guarantee that. It is now time for the local Tories in that area to move on and find another issue with which to scaremonger.

“I only wish I could get as satisfactory and unequivocal answer about the future of primary schools in West Lancashire from the Conservative Leader of Lancashire County Council.”