Warrington Borough Council leader says no to prison on Omega

5:16pm Monday 14th January 2013 in News

Warrington Borough Council leader says no to prison on Omega Warrington Borough Council leader says no to prison on Omega

ANY potential plans to build a 'super prison' on Omega have been given a resounding no.

Council leader Clr Terry O'Neill spoke out today after rumours circulated at the weekend the business park could once again be seen as a possible site for a 2,000 capacity prison.

But Clr O’Neill (LAB - Burtonwood and Winwick) said developers behind Omega had not even been approached as a possible site.


He added: “Any potential investment in the Omega site that does not contribute to our ambitious business growth plans would serve only to stifle this development and any future investment opportunities, particularly for Omega South.


”On that basis, we would not support any proposal for a prison at Omega if this were to be raised.”

The Government announced on Thursday plans to build the new huge prison.

But developers say they will not put Omega forward as a possible site.


Andrew Sutherland, joint managing director of Miller Developments, a partner of Omega Warrington Ltd, said: “Our aims and ambitions are far reaching when it comes to Omega and we have no intention of putting Omega forward as an option site to the Ministry of Justice.


“The major announcement made only last month about Brakes, the first occupier deal signed for the Omega site, has acted as a catalyst for this project and this is an exciting time for economic development and business growth. Having reached this key milestone, the Omega project is now firmly underway and we are all committed to building on its success and making the project become a sustainable reality.”


Warrington South MP David Mowat also hit out at the rumours.


He said: “This proposal should be an absolute non-starter.


“Labour wanted to put 2,500 hardened criminals a matter of metres from a large residential area, saying it would bring ‘an economic benefit’. It was only because Conservatives and Liberal Democrats worked together with local residents that they were forced to back down.


“It was wrong then and it is wrong now. That site has been specifically earmarked to create jobs for Warrington."

Other companies to move onto the Omega site include Asda.

Comments(12)

yazhoo1 says...
6:35pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Well done David Mowat, spot on.

But lets be honest.... if developers really wanted to put a prison on Omega, they are hardly going to be put off by Terry O'Neill.

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SAC_in_Warrington says...
6:49pm Mon 14 Jan 13

what an opportunity, now lost! However it wouldn't have created a very large flow of HGVs, unlike the much preferred occupants of the site.

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fountainview123 says...
6:58pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Well done Mr.Mowat again,surely with Risley & Thorncross on our doorstep we have enough bad lads around

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OneLastTime says...
7:37pm Mon 14 Jan 13

I believe a prison would be a good idea. It's a better occupant on the land than HGV driven companies. Also, think about the jobs it would have created, probably more than an industrial company.

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old-codger says...
7:52pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Like Appleton Thorn and Risley the land belonged to the MOD.
Some land on the Burtonwood side of the motorway still belongs to the MOD..
If the MOD wants to build a prison on it they wont be asking Clr O’Neill or David Mowat for permission.
Prisons employ people as well and buy local produce,

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bellyblue says...
7:53pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Super prisons have to be built somewhere because the one's we have now are bursting at the seams, typical not on my doorstep attitudes. There are alot more Bad lads walking the streets that should of been locked up and alot more thinking they are untouchable because they wont be locked up with full prisons!!

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Casual Postman of Orford says...
8:13pm Mon 14 Jan 13

A prison offers more to the area than a soulless warehouse full of deadbeats and immigrants!!

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Mikeywire says...
9:57pm Mon 14 Jan 13

bellyblue wrote:
Super prisons have to be built somewhere because the one's we have now are bursting at the seams, typical not on my doorstep attitudes. There are alot more Bad lads walking the streets that should of been locked up and alot more thinking they are untouchable because they wont be locked up with full prisons!!
Agree with this...Build more prisons and start putting the criminals behing bars, instead of giving fines they don't pay and community service they don't turn up to..

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fountainview123 says...
10:08pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Probably an ideal site loads of local criminals and the hoards of manchester & liverpool could soon fill it up. Could be quite green by reducing miles travelled for visitors.

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OneLastTime says...
11:06pm Mon 14 Jan 13

When you think about it, it's quite an ideal place to have a prison. It's quite rural, there is a lot of land for the prison and it has good transport links for visitors and employees. Also solves the problem of already over crowded prisons around Warrington.
If you look at Risley prison, that is built near a huge residential area, probably bigger than near omega and Risley doesn't have many complaints!
If you ask me, it's a much better use of land which would probably end up undeveloped for a while.

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Nick Tessla says...
8:25am Tue 15 Jan 13

Perhaos Mr O'Neill and his junta should concentrate on real, existing problems rather than taking a stand against non-existent plans - and presumably claiming credit when those non-existent plans don't happen.


I tend to think of him and his sidekick as Laurel and Hardy - perhaps I was wrong and he is more like Don Quiote - tilting at windmills, with the delusion that he is a knight fighting giants ;-)

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old-codger says...
12:38pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Nice one Nick,

Imagine Sir Terry on a white charger,

These people get idea,s above their station. They also forget what they were elected to do,

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