Denbighshire’s Chief Executive, Mohammed Mehmet and Leader, Councillor Hugh Evans, will be lobbying the Ministry of Justice to consider a site in Denbighshire for a prison to serve North Wales.
The favoured site in the county would be Greengates, near the St Asaph Business Park and the pledge has received backing from Division Commander, Simon Humphreys of North Wales Police, who has been in talks with Mr Mehmet and Councillor Evans.
Divisional Commander Humphreys said: “The North Wales prison would offer local justice for local people. The Greengates site is ideally placed between both North Wales’ crown courts and close to both the A55 and required policing resources”
Mr Mehmet said: “There is a recognised need for a prison in North Wales and we consider this site to have all the requirements necessary. Provision of a prison would bring significant economic benefits to the area, and would strongly match one of the council’s corporate priorities of regeneration.”
Councillor Evans added: “If the Ministry is looking for a site in North Wales, then Greengates would be the ideal choice.
“The location is central, right on the A55 corridor, and would provide a much needed facility for the north of the country.”
The Greengates site has been chosen because it is a flat 80 acre piece of land and is owned by the council.
It includes up to 40 acres, which have been allocated for development in the adopted Unitary Development plan for employment use and the remaining 40 acres is being currently being considered for inclusion in the Local Development Plan, which is currently in preparation.
It is within one hour of all Crown Court and major Magistrate Court facilities. In particular the courts in Mold and Caernarfon (and Chester) can be reached within one hour and is close to major police and hospital facilities, namely North Wales Police Central Division HQ (on the St Asaph business park) and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.
