A TOP politician will face questions over a new 1,400-inmate prison and the possible increase in traffic as a result, impacting residents and the countryside.
Buckinghamshire Council leader, Cllr Martin Tett, will answer claims a new category C prison, which could be coming to the village of Grendon Underwood in 2025, will exacerbate vehicle movements associated with HS2 and East West Rail (EWR).
Conservative Cllr Cameron Branston, who lives in Long Crendon, will challenge the leader during a Cabinet meeting, on Monday, January 25.
READ MORE: New prison housing over 1,400 inmates could be built in Bucks
Cllr Branston said the combination of the new prison, HS2 and EWR are not “environmentally sustainable”, adding the new facility is “intrusive” and people living in Edgcott and Grendon Underwood will be “especially” affected.
He said the new prison population will be larger than both villages combined and questioned whether any degree of landscaping might shield residents from the “large edifices” during the day, or from light pollution at night.
He will ask Cabinet to do “all it can to protect the environment and the countryside, allowing residents to enjoy the amenities in the countryside”.
If plans go ahead, the new prison could be built on land immediately north of HMP Grendon, a category B prison, and HMP Springhill, a category D or open prison.
There will be six four-storey houseblocks, each with 240 prisoners, and support buildings including a kitchen, workshops and a central services hub, according to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Plans also include kennels, polytunnels, around 430 parking spaces, perimeter fencing and a perimeter road for patrols.
Works could begin in 2023, subject to a planning application approved by Buckinghamshire Council.
“[Edgcott and Grendon Underwood] are under significant strain managing traffic from HS2 and EWR projects,” wrote Cllr Branston. “Can the villages manage more traffic to the prison site?
“Once the prison is operational, traffic movements will continue. None of this is environmentally sustainable.
“Daily movements, from 500 – 600 coupled with visitors, will only increase the carbon footprint in Buckinghamshire.”
He added: “It is difficult to understand how trees could camouflage four-story buildings with jarring colours in the open countryside, nor does it seem possible that trees and shrubbery will contain light pollution emanating from these large edifices at night.”
Buckinghamshire Council is expected to agree its draft response to a government consultation on the new prison during the same Cabinet meeting.
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