Final protest against prison site

A demonstration in August attracted around 300 people to the site

Residents in Cwmbran have held a final demonstration in protest over plans that could see a prison open near their homes.

The town's old police training centre is one of four possible sites being considered to house a new Welsh jail.

A similar protest in August attracted around 300 people from the Greenmeadow area of the town.

The 39-acre site was bought by the Ministry of Justice in 2007, prompting fears that it is the front runner.

It has been rated as a "very good" site by officials and could hold up to 1,500 inmates if given the go-ahead.

The three other potential places for the new prison are Merthyr, Wrexham and Caernarfon.

Public consultation on the possible choices for the prison site closes at the end of October, prompting this final demonstration in Cwmbran.

Opposition

One of the organisers, local councillor Catherine Lewis said: "I'd like to think that our voice is going to be heard.

"At least we can say we have tried our very best to stop it."

Ms Lewis said she and others supporting the action were not opposed to a prison being sited in the Cwmbran area.

"It's only that site we are against. It's a stones throw from a highly populated area, it is so inappropriate."

The initial report on the shortlisted locations see the advantages of Cwmbran being close to the M4 corridor, courts and rail links.

Although the Cwmbran site was only officially shortlisted in August, its opponents have been putting together a petition to oppose the plans since October 2007 after finding out that the site had been sold to the Ministry of Justice.

Torfaen council has previously stated it would oppose the plans as it would jeopardise its own multi-million pound programme to regenerate the nearby town centre.