South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, has met with the Prisons Minister, Sam Gyimah MP, in order to discuss the Government’s proposals for the new Glen Parva prison.
The proposed new Category C development will be built on the previous prison’s site and is part of the Government’s £1.3 billion plans to replace aging prisons across the UK. The former prison, HMP/YOI Glen Parva, was primarily used as a Young Offenders Institution and closed in September earlier this year.
Alberto said, “I was very pleased to meet with Sam recently to discuss this the new prison development in my constituency. This matter has been a cause of some question and concern for my constituents and so I was grateful to have the opportunity to relay these concerns directly to the responsible Minister. Issues such as privacy and noise are of paramount importance to residents living nearby the new site, however I am confident, following this meeting, that the developers and the local authority will take these aspects into account and listen to the views of my constituents when finalising the details around the layout of the new prison site”.
The new prison was recently granted outline planning permission by the local authority, Blaby District Council, however more detailed plans will be submitted by the Government and the developers later this year which will then go out to consultation, asking for the views and opinions of local residents.
Alberto added, “During our meeting I was also careful to stress the importance of community usage for constituents, and I have received assurances that parts of this prison will be open for local residents. In addition, I was also pleased to receive the Minister’s assurances regarding the categorisation of the new prison, which will be a Category C facility and I can confirm that no plans are currently in place to change this category level”.
Alberto is pictured above with the former prison's Governor Alison Clarke following a visit to HMP Glen Parva last year.