Doubts over Caernarfon prison plan

DOUBTS have been raised about the plan to build a prison on the former Ferodo/Friction Dynamex site.

The owners of the site on the banks of the Menai Strait, Bluefield Caernarfon Ltd, will be proceeding with an application to build a leisure, residential or retirement-led development – despite spending the last three months negotiating its sale to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to allow a prison to be built there.

In February, Prisons Minister David Hanson chose the old Ferodo site in Caernarfon as its preferred choice for Wales’ newest jail.

However the move by Bluefield to continue with its initial mixed-use scheme, which includes proposals to build homes with either a retirement or hotel complex, has come as a shock, although it will continue its negotiations over the sale of the land with the MOJ.

The company issued a statement to this effect to the Herald this week but withdrew it at the last minute and declined to comment.

It is understood that negotiations with the Ministry of Justice have dragged on for months.

Because the site is also attracting interest from other organisations, the decision has been made to go ahead with seeking outline planning permissions for mixed use development.

The Herald understands that the firm was concerned about the lack of progress on a sale with the MOJ in that three month period and felt it prudent to look at all the options for the site.

Last week Prisons Minister David Hanson, in a letter to the local MP Hywel Williams, hinted that asbestos, disposed of on the land, might be holding up a sale.

In the letter Mr Hanson said: “The programme to deliver the new prison is in its early stages; negotiations with the owners of the site are underway and we continue to await confirmation that contamination on the site will not delay a prison development.”

The Herald asked the MOJ if contamination concerns were holding up the sale, or if last week’s announcement about plans to build five 1,500 place prisons in England and Wales, meant the Caernarfon proposal was now in jeopardy?

This was denied by an MOJ spokeswoman, who said: “As previously announced NOMS (national offender management service) are seeking to acquire the former Dynamex site at Caernarfon. The negotiations with the owners of the site involve, not only discussions about price, but also carrying out due diligence enquiries which normally take up to six months.

“Negotiations began with the owners in February and are continuing. It would not be appropriate at this stage to comment on individual aspects of those negotiations or speculate on the outcome.

“The announcement of five new prisons does not alter the plans or timescale for the project in Caernarfon – the government’s plans to deliver 96,000 prison places by 2014 are not new.”

The Herald asked Gwynedd Council if it was concerned about the prison plan, in light of the company’s announcement?

A spokesman said: “Gwynedd Council is work closely with the Ministry of Justice on the prison project and the first meeting of project stakeholders has been scheduled for May 1.

“We are also making detailed plans to ensure that local people and businesses are ready to maximise the opportunities the development will provide during the construction phase and then when it is operational.

Caernarfon Menai ward councillor Ioan Thomas said: “Any developer obviously needs to consider all options until a legal agreement is agreed with an end user.

“I was not totally in favour of the options as displayed of a mix of residential, business and leisure, but appreciate that the developer has to move forward with plans for an alternative use to a prison.”